Are you drinking a satisfactory amount of water on a daily basis? When we ask you this, do you feel a little surprised because you weren’t even aware that there’s a particular amount you should be consuming? The truth is, your body needs a steady amount of hydration to remain healthy (and the same goes for your oral health). When you’re deficient, you’re dehydrated. When you’re dehydrated, your body can’t function optimally and you may suffer from dry mouth and other problems. Let us help you out a bit to see whether you need to increase your fluid intake.
Common Dehydration Symptoms
If you are suffering from the beginning stage of dehydration (meaning you just haven’t been consuming enough water), you will notice some symptoms begin to arise. They may crossover with symptoms of other concerns, which is why it’s important to pay attention to how much water you’re drinking. Symptoms may include:
- Feeling sleepy
- Skin that’s drying out
- A headache
- Dry mouth
Why Dry Mouth Is Bad
If you are ignoring your hydration levels, you end up with a dry, sticky mouth, and this continues, the results can be quite negative for your oral health. Here’s why:
- Your body needs enough hydration for all of its tissues to remain healthy (which includes a moist mouth and sufficient saliva production)
- When saliva production is low, your mouth isn’t consistently flushed, which means bacteria can grow and cause problems like decay and bad breath
What You Can Do
First, you can begin drinking the 8 8-oz. glasses of water that it takes to remain nice and hydrated. Second, of course, you can schedule a visit with us to ensure you’re back on track and that your insufficient water was the only cause of your dry mouth.
