Hi. I’m Dr. Ed White. Welcome to my Elizabethtown dental blog. Today we’ll be looking at the complexity and importance of your saliva. Though most people in the Hershey, Manheim, or Lancaster 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 gingivitis.
Now that Leola 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 Elizabethtown family dentistry 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 Hershey, Manheim, or Lancaster area and are looking for quality dental care, please contact my office today at 717-367-1336. We have been providing general and cosmetic dentistry in Elizabethtown since 1984.
Our caring and professional staff would be happy to talk to you about cosmetic dentistry, sedation dentistry, dental implants, Invisalign clear braces, and the other services we provide to our valued patients.
Dr. Ed White
White Family Dental
100 Continental Dr
Elizabethtown Pennsylvania
717-367-1336
http://www.etowndental.com/about/
