It gets pretty hot and humid during Indiana summers!

That’s why our team at Rod Eccles, DDS wants you to know how to protect your smile this season.

Today, we’re telling you how to avoid the dangers of dry mouth so your teeth and gums stay healthy. You can also come to our Plainfield, IN dental office for dry mouth treatment to keep the saliva moving!

What Saliva Does For Your Smile

When you’re out in the hot sun, even if you’re just sitting still, you’re losing water through sweat.

That’s why you have to be extra vigilant during summer to drink plenty of water and stay well-hydrated.

It’s not just something your body depends on, but your smile depends on hydration, too.

It has to do with your ability to produce saliva.

Here are a few reasons you need plenty of saliva flowing:

*It coats your teeth, making it harder for them to take on stains.

*It can wash away food particles and keep your breath fresher.

*It keeps your teeth strong by protecting your enamel.

*It reduces your risk for tooth decay and gum disease.

Saliva carries a lot of responsibility, which is why you should do all you can to help it out!

Drink lots of water, and increase your intake when you’re involved in physical activity or are losing fluids in the hot, summer sun!

What Dry Mouth Can Do To Teeth, Health, & Your Social Life!

You have to make salvia if you want healthy, strong teeth. But dehydration stops saliva production in its tracks, and here’s what can happen as a result:

*It Threatens Your Tooth Enamel*

It’s not really something we think about, but teeth and gums depend on saliva.

Saliva is naturally produced by your body, and it’s made up of bacteria-fighting agents that protect the inside of your mouth.

It even has the power to repair tiny spots on your teeth that have been somehow compromised. Because we don’t see what saliva does for us, it’s easy to forget how important it is for our smiles!

*It Leads To Cavities*

Every time you eat or drink, there will be bits of food, debris, and sugary residue left behind.

Under normal conditions, we rely on saliva to wash it away between regular daily cleanings.

Without enough saliva, like when you have dry mouth, the food particles and sugar is there to feed harmful bacteria. The feeding process creates acids that eat holes through your tooth enamel, which is a cavity.

*It Paves The Way For Gum Disease*

The bad bacteria in your mouth will thrive, which means your teeth aren’t the only compromised structures.

Your gums are just as much under threat of harmful acids created by bacteria. It’s how the infection of gum disease begins.

Over time, it eats away at your gums, pulls them away from your teeth, and can eventually lead to tooth loss.

*It Causes Bad Breath*

Here’s where dry mouth can have an effect on your social life.

It causes bad breath, mainly because you’re not creating enough saliva to clean away bits of food after you eat. If food particles stay behind, they’ll eventually leave behind an odor.

It’s just another reason to keep your mouth clean with regular brushing and flossing, as well as staying hydrated!

Make An Appointment

Summer is the perfect time for one of your twice annual dental cleanings and exams. With the various threats to your oral health and your smile during this particular season, it’s a chance to prevent the dental problems we’ve talked about today before they take hold in your mouth.

But any time throughout the year that you notice symptoms of dry mouth, call us right away for treatment!

Call our dentist in Plainfield, IN today at 317-682-0884 or fill out our convenient online form to schedule an appointment.