In this post, the dentist at the Center for Dental Anesthesia in Alexandria considers the significance of your saliva. Though you may think it’s gross, saliva is critical for dental health as well as digestion.
Saliva is mostly water, but a small portion of it is made up of enzymes, antibacterial substances, mucus, and minerals. The prime pH balance of the mouth is maintained by saliva, and pH balance is an essential factor for preventing cavities.
The minerals in saliva help to maintain the enamel surface of the teeth. Immunoproteins in saliva suppress the overgrowth of microbes in the mouth, thereby protecting the gums from gingivitis.
Now that you know how important saliva is to dental health, I’m sure you can see why sufficient salivary flow should concern you. For most people, everyday chewing is enough to stimulate salivary glands to release saliva. However, dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is an ailment that should be dealt with quickly before oral health troubles take place.
The staff at the Center for Dental Anesthesia in Alexandria VA would be happy to meet with you about family or cosmetic dentistry. We also provide special needs dentistry. Make an appointment with us today.
Contact Center for Dental Anesthesia:
703-379-6400
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
5284 Dawes Ave
Alexandria, Virginia
22311
