People often fail to realize that the flow of saliva into the human mouth plays a vital role in maintaining the well-being of oral health. Are you wondering why? Well, the best Sugar Land dentists have come up with this blog to discuss why saliva is important for healthy teeth and gums. So, why wait anymore? Go through the sections below to gain a clear understanding of this topic.

What is Saliva?

Saliva is basically an exocrine solution that consists of a wide variety of proteins and electrolytes and almost 99%-98% of water. You need to know that the presence of proteins and electrolytes enables the saliva to perform various functions that are good for your teeth and gums. Consuming less amount of water on a regular basis can affect the production of saliva and as a result, increases the chances of you suffering from severe dental problems such as tooth decay.

9 Major Function Of Saliva

Human saliva performs a wide array of functions. We have listed the benefits of the saliva flow in the pointers below:

Saliva lubricates the mouth
It is useful to dilute the sugars present in the food items or beverages
Helpful for cleansing of the microbial activities
Saliva is also helpful in neutralizing the acid produced in the mouth by harmful bacteria
Remineralization of the enamel (outermost layer of the human teeth) with phosphates and calcium is another important function of the saliva
Repair of the tissues in the mouth is also done by saliva
Enhances the taste of food
Enables you to chew or swallow food items with ease
Helps to speak properly by lubricating mouthparts

Now that you have gained a clearer understanding of the function of saliva, make sure to drink an adequate amount of water on a daily basis. Saliva also helps to fight against the harmful bacteria present in your mouth and also wash away the food particles stuck in between your teeth and along the gum line. Less saliva creates an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria that can do damage to your oral health.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

A dry mouth is never considered good for your oral health. Some of the major causes of dry mouth have been mentioned below:

Having an obstruction in the duct for saliva flow
Suffering from various health problems such as AIDS/HIV, diabetes, Sjogren\’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, etc
Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Smoking cigarettes on a regular basis
Structural problems in salivary gland or duct

If you feel that the problem of having a dry mouth is not getting resolved, do get in touch with a dentist. Ignoring this issue for a long can create a dent in your oral health. If you are looking for the best dental care in Sugar Land, TX, book an appointment at Floss Dental. All you need to do is just give us a call.