What’s on your to-do list this summer? Are you planning to spend your days out and about, enjoying the nice warm weather? Or are you a fan of relaxing and lounging by the poolside? No matter what you’ve got going on this season, something you’ll want to do is drink enough water! Not only is drinking enough water crucial for staying hydrated, but it also greatly benefits your oral health. That said, sometimes the signs of dehydration aren’t always obvious. Keep reading to learn more from your dentist about the importance of hydration and some of the hard-to-detect signs of dehydration.
Why Hydration Matters
Your body is mostly water—so it makes sense that water is the absolute best beverage for it! But hydration also specifically benefits your teeth, gums, and whole mouth in many ways, the primary one being the production of saliva. Your saliva is important; it helps to neutralize the cavity-causing acids that are produced by bacteria. It also helps to rinse away lingering food particles that remain after you eat. Without enough saliva, your mouth won’t just feel dry; it’s also very vulnerable to tooth decay, gum disease, and all sorts of oral health problems. Not to mention, drinking enough water also keeps your breath fresh!
Seven Sneaky Signs of Dehydration
By the time you feel thirsty, you’re often already dehydrated! But thirst isn’t the only symptom of dehydration. Here are seven more hard-to-detect signs that you should keep an eye out for:
- Bad breath/dry mouth – Bacteria can thrive in your mouth if there isn’t enough saliva present, causing dry mouth and accompanying bad breath, and sometimes even mouth sores.
- Headaches – Even mild dehydration can lead to headaches or sometimes migraines.
- Flu-like symptoms – You can experience lightheadedness, nausea, fever, chills, or other cold/flu-like symptoms if you’re severely dehydrated.
- Fatigue – You might also feel unenergetic and also unable to get good sleep.
- Hunger – Since the same part of your brain that controls hunger also controls thirst, you can sometimes feel hungry again after eating—but this is usually a sign that you need to drink some water!
- Muscle Cramps – Even walking around on a hot day can lead to a painful muscle cramp if you’re dehydrated.
- Dark-Colored Urine – Clear, pale-yellow urine indicates you’re properly hydrated. If your urine is a darker shade of yellow, you should drink some water.
Tips for Staying Properly Hydrated
There’s no set requirement for how much water you should drink throughout the day; simply drink when you’re thirsty and stop when you’re not! That said, consider these tips to ensure that you’re adequately hydrated all the time:
- Drink water in advance of physical exercise or outdoor activities, especially during warm weather.
- Consider carrying a refillable water bottle with you if you’re out and about.
- Try to drink tap water whenever possible, as it usually contains fluoride which benefits your tooth enamel.
Dehydration isn’t something you should just shrug off—not drinking enough water puts your whole body at risk, including your mouth. Watch out for these sneaky signs of dehydration and adhere to these tips to ensure that you’re properly hydrated all summer long.
About the Practice
Times Square Family Dental proudly serves patients and families in the Tyler, TX area under the leadership of Dr. Javier Perez! Dr. Perez received his DDS from UCLA and has over 25 years of experience in dentistry! His practice is pleased to offer many available services including preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry options. If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule an appointment, you can contact the practice online or by phone at (903) 534-8110.