The Importance of Saliva

Did you know that the average person produces two to four pints of saliva every day? Over the course of your lifetime, you are likely to produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools! There are good reasons that your body creates spit; and it is more important than you may think.

The Value of Your Spit

Saliva has many roles. Although it’s 99.5% water, your saliva contains enzymes, proteins, mucous, electrolytes, anti-bacterials and other important substances. You may already be familiar with how your saliva helps you speak, swallow and eat. But did you know that saliva can keep your teeth healthy? The composition of your saliva also reveals key indicators about your overall health.

The diagnostic capabilities of your saliva are still undergoing research. However, we know that just one drop of your spit can let physicians evaluate a variety of health factors, including your risk for heart disease, stress levels and presence of certain cancers. When it comes to your dental health, however, it is important that your saliva production doesn’t dip too low.

The Trouble with Low Saliva Production

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, involves the low production of saliva. You may understand this to mean “cotton mouth.” The truth is, however, a dry mouth is far more than just uncomfortable. Without adequate saliva, your teeth and gums are more vulnerable to decay and gum disease. We need saliva to rinse away excess food debris and bacteria, as well as neutralize the acids throughout our oral cavity. Your spit is a powerful preventative weapon against oral health problems.

Dry Mouth Treatment from a Dentist

If you have a chronically dry mouth, let us help. At Elegant Smiles, we understand the value of having enough saliva in your mouth. We can recommend therapies to prevent future dry mouth as well as address the decay, bad breath or gum disease that your dry mouth may have already caused. Call our Roswell dental team today to learn more.