What’s on your to-do list this summer? Whether you’re hitting the beach, visiting your family across the country, or enjoying evening backyard cookouts, it’s important to drink enough water and stay hydrated! However, some signs of dehydration aren’t always very obvious. Here are some of the most subtle and unnoticeable signs of dehydration that your dentist wants you to be aware of, along with some ways to protect your mouth and keep your thirst quenched this summer.
Why Hydration Matters
Water is the absolute best beverage for your body—which makes a lot of sense, as you’re mostly composed of it! But hydration also specifically benefits your oral health; if your mouth is moist, it’s able to naturally produce a sufficient amount of saliva. This helps to neutralize the cavity-causing acids produced by bacteria, while also helping to rinse away lingering debris! If you don’t have enough saliva in your mouth, you’re vulnerable to tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health problems. And to produce enough saliva, your mouth needs to be hydrated!
Sneaky Signs of Dehydration
Feeling thirsty is far from the only symptom of being dehydrated. Also be mindful of these sneaky signs:
- Bad breath/dry mouth – When you’re dehydrated you don’t produce as much saliva, which allows foul-smelling bacteria to thrive and give you stinky breath.
- Headaches – Even mild dehydration can lead to headaches, or sometimes migraines in more severe cases. Researchers have noted that dehydration can also temporarily shrink brain tissue which can cause pain.
- Flu-like symptoms – In addition to headaches, you might experience dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, or other cold/flu-like symptoms. Even fevers or chills could be a result of serious dehydration.
- Hunger – The region of your brain that controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst is called the hypothalamus. Sometimes you can feel hungry right after eating—this is often a sign that you’re thirsty and dehydrated!
- Fatigue – You can sometimes feel lethargic and unenergetic if you’re dehydrated, as it can make getting a good night’s sleep more difficult.
- Muscle Cramps – Dehydration and electrolyte depletion are key causes for muscle cramps and spasms. This doesn’t just affect athletes, either; even simply walking around on a hot day can lead to a painful cramp if you’re dehydrated!
- Dark-colored urine – This is an easy way to check if you’re dehydrated. Clear or pale-yellow urine means you’re hydrated, but if it’s a darker color, it’s time for a glass of water.
Tips For Staying Hydrated
There’s no set rule for how much water you should drink every day. A great and mostly reliable rule-of-thumb is to drink when you’re thirsty and stop when you’re not. Although, be mindful that feeling thirsty can sometimes set in after you’re already mildly dehydrated.
You should also be prepared to stay hydrated if you know you’ll be spending a lot of time in the sun; your body becomes dehydrated much faster when you’re sweating, so drinking plenty of fluids in advance and having a refillable water bottle with you is advisable.
Even though it’s not always obvious, being dehydrated can lead to some serious issues if you aren’t careful! Knowing what signs to look for and how to properly stay hydrated can ensure that your body is in tiptop shape all summer long.
About the Practice
Hilltop Family Dental of Chardon is proud to serve the community under the leadership of Dr. Robert Nicholas Slezak! Dr. Slezak received his dental doctorate from Case Western Reserve University and is a member of the Ohio Dental Association and the American Dental Association. He has also completed state-of-the-art continuing education at the prestigious Pankey Institute! If you have any questions about the article or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Slezak, feel free to contact him online or give him a call: (440) 285-8211.