It’s easy to become dehydrated through exercise, daily life, and not eating or drinking enough. And dehydration, of course, harms our bodies in many ways. Unfortunately, dehydration is a constant concern in Southern California. With the hot and dry climate, Rancho Mirage residents constantly battle the creeping fear of dehydration.
Signs of Dehydration
Your body will start to show warning signs when you don’t drink enough water. First, you will get very thirsty and develop a dry mouth. Then, you will start urinating less or you will have very dark urination. Additionally, you will develop dry skin, headaches, and possible muscle cramps.
If you don’t listen to your body’s warning signs, you could develop severe dehydration. With severe dehydration, you can develop even dryer skin and darker urine. Furthermore, you may start to feel dizzy and develop a rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing. If you start experiencing sleepiness, lack of energy, confusion or irritability with these other symptoms, you should seek help immediately.
How Dehydration Affects Your Teeth
Medication and illness are the usual cause of dry mouth. However, your mouth can become very dry from dehydration as well. This condition lessens the amount of saliva in your mouth, which, in turn, limits your mouth’s ability to remove plaque and bacteria. With plaque and bacteria buildup, your risk of tooth decay and gum disease increases greatly.
Bacteria causes tooth decay, which then leads to cavities. When you get cavities, you’ll need to see your dentist for a dental crown or root canal therapy.
Even though physical fitness provides numerous benefits for your mind and body, it could also be very dangerous for your teeth if you don’t hydrate. High-endurance athletes actually have a greater risk of tooth erosion due to enamel loss from excess acid. In the dentistry world, we fear that working out causes a lack of saliva. Since saliva actually works for your oral hygiene to fight bacteria and keep your pearly whites clean, a lack of saliva can be very detrimental to your oral health.
So, Drink More Water!
Many people don’t realize how easy it is to become dehydrated in the winter months. Because the weather is colder, people assume that they need less water. But that’s just not the case! Make sure that you drink enough water both in the summer and the winter. Experts usually recommend drinking about a gallon of water, or eight cups, each day.
And, if you already have tooth decay, fear not! That’s what we’re here for. Visit Dr. Strober at Country Club Dental to fill your cavities. Call us at (760) 832-7915 or schedule an appointment online to see your dentist in the Rancho Mirage area.
