Temperatures are up, which means the risk of dehydration is rising as well. Assuming you want to have fun in the sun, that means you’ll need to be extra careful in the weeks ahead. After all, you don’t want to deal with health scares over the summer, right? Your dentist certainly doesn’t!
Below are four sneaky signs of dehydration and some tips so you can stay well-hydrated this season!
The Sneaky Signs of Dehydration
- A Smelly or Dry Mouth: Dehydration causes bad breath by reducing your saliva. Without saliva to break down food and rinse it from your mouth, the oral cavity gets smelly over time.
- Headache: Headaches are a common sign of mild to moderate dehydration, and they can be either tolerable or intense. Dehydration can also trigger migraine episodes.
- Darkened Urine: A lack of urination can point to dehydration, as can urine that looks extremely dark…this means it doesn’t contain a lot of water.
- Hunger: Many people confuse thirst for hunger. This makes sense because these signals come from the same part of the brain. So, if you’re oddly hungry, you might actually be thirsty.
Dehydration’s Negative Health Effects
Being dehydrated can damage the health of your teeth and gums. Besides the previously mentioned bad breath, it can cause your mouth to develop sores and infections. It also deprives your teeth of the calcium, phosphate, and fluoride they need to remain strong.
Other serious consequences of dehydration include heat cramps, heatstroke, kidney problems, and loss of consciousness from low blood volume.
Hydration Tips
There aren’t hard rules about how much anyone should drink in 24 hours. While many follow the rule of six-to-eight glasses of water per day, most medical professionals and trainers say this isn’t necessary.
In general, people should drink until they no longer feel thirsty. While thirst is not always a reliable indicator, it does serve as a good guideline in most situations. To be safe, you could also drink slightly more than you feel you need. Groups like the Mayo Clinic warn that you might already be mildly dehydrated by the time you’re thirsty.
Ensure hydration is something you’re conscious of as you go about your day. Also, plan ahead: Keep a reusable water bottle with you, or drink herbal tea or water infused with fruit or herbs. By having water on hand, you’ll stay refreshed enough to play sports, hike, work out, etc.
Summer heat doesn’t have to dehydrate you. So long as you watch for the signs and respond accordingly, you can get along just fine!
About the Author
Dr. Craig R. Harder is a dentist practicing in Moses Lake, WA, having earned his Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the Creighton University Dental School. For over twenty years, he’s served the Moses Lake community with his commitment to excellent dental treatment. Dr. Harder has also taken many continuing education courses to keep his skills sharp. He currently practices at Moses Lake Family Dentistry and can be reached at his website or by phone at (509)-765-4351.