The role saliva plays in our oral health has long been overlooked. Although composed mainly of water, it also contains substances that are crucial to:
- keep our mouth moist
- help us chew, taste, and swallow our food
- prevent bacterial build up in our mouth
- protect us from tooth decay and gum disease
- keep dentures in place
What happens if you have too little saliva?
Your mouth becomes very dry if you don’t produce enough saliva, a condition known as xerostomia. Aside from it being an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, it can also cause swelling of the gums, tongue and other tissues. Also, tooth decay and gum disease quickly develop if a person has dry mouth as saliva’s role is to clear food debris from our teeth. Without saliva, food becomes less palatable too.
Certain factors cause dry mouth syndromes like HIV, saliva duct obstruction, chemotherapy, smoking, and dehydration. In such cases, your dentist Newport Beach will recommend that you rinse your mouth with artificial saliva. It is in the form of liquid or spray which can be bought over the counter. It can keep the mouth moist however it doesn’t have the essential substances that aid digestion.
What about too much saliva? http://www.dentist-newport-beach.com/crucial-role-saliva-oral-health/
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