Hi. I’m Dr. David Rice. Welcome to my South Elgin general dentistry blog. Today we’ll be looking at the complexity and importance of your saliva. Though most people in South Elgin and surrounding areas may think it’s gross, saliva is essential to 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 pH balance of the mouth is maintained by saliva, and pH balance is a key factor in the development of cavities and other forms of tooth decay.
The minerals in saliva help to maintain the enamel surface of the teeth. Immunoproteins in saliva inhibit the overgrowth of microbes in the mouth, thereby protecting the gums from gum disease like gingivitis.
Now that South Elgin residents know how important saliva is to dental health, I’m sure you can see why ample salivary flow should concern you. For most of my South Elgin patients, 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 complications occur.
If you are in the South Elgin area and are looking for quality family dentistry, please contact my office today at 847-741-2353. We have been providing general and cosmetic dentistry in the South Elgin area since 1986.
Our comfortable staff would be happy to talk to you about cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, sedation dentistry, general dentistry, and the other services we provide to our valued patients.
Dr. David Rice
David Rice DDS
1972 Larkin Ave Ste 1
Elgin, Illinois
847-741-2353
https://www.ricedds.com/about-us.html