{"id":79,"date":"2023-11-02T19:12:45","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T19:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.winthropstreetdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=79"},"modified":"2023-11-07T19:14:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-07T19:14:17","slug":"reasons-to-be-thankful-for-your-saliva-this-thanksgiving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winthropstreetdentistry.com\/blog\/reasons-to-be-thankful-for-your-saliva-this-thanksgiving\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Reasons to Be Thankful for Your Saliva This Thanksgiving"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winthropstreetdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image-300x200.png\" alt=\"a family celebrating Thanksgiving together \" class=\"wp-image-80\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.winthropstreetdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.winthropstreetdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.winthropstreetdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image.png 975w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>As Thanksgiving approaches, we often reflect on the things that we are thankful for\u2014family, good food, health, and happiness to name just a few. Yet, there\u2019s one unsung hero within our bodies that rarely gets the credit it deserves: saliva! This fluid plays a very vital role in our overall health and well-being, and it also happens to be our first line of defense against pesky issues like cavities. That said, it\u2019s worth taking a moment to appreciate everything our saliva does for us. Keep reading to learn more from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winthropstreetdentistry.com\/preventive-dentistry.html\">your dentist<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saliva Assists with Digestion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you even take the first bite of that delicious Thanksgiving feast, your mouth might already be watering\u2014meaning that your saliva is already hard at work! Saliva contains enzymes that start breaking down carbohydrates the moment you begin chewing your food, meaning that once you start eating, you\u2019ve technically begun digesting, too. Not to mention, it keeps your mouth moist which makes eating easier; chewing your food simply wouldn\u2019t be enough to digest it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saliva Protects Your Teeth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While you\u2019re savoring your favorite Thanksgiving desserts\u2014whether it\u2019s pumpkin pie, peach cobbler, or your grandma\u2019s famous chocolate cake, saliva is busy protecting your teeth. It helps to maintain the pH balance in your mouth, preventing the acids produced by bacteria from eroding your enamel. It also contains minerals that aid in remineralizing your teeth and repairing minor damages; these healing properties are small, but still quite valuable. The bottom line is that it\u2019s your body\u2019s primary defense mechanism against all sorts of oral issues; without it, your teeth would be in trouble!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Saliva Prevents Dry Mouth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Have you ever experienced that uncomfortable feeling of dry mouth as you\u2019re relaxing on the couch, hours after eating? Or perhaps you\u2019ve woken up with the feeling\u2014either way, it\u2019s quite unpleasant! Saliva keeps your mouth moist, preventing dryness and discomfort. Adequate saliva production is crucial for things like speaking, swallowing, and even tasting your food properly\u2014but by preventing your mouth from drying out, it\u2019s protecting you from various issues that threaten your oral wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The impact that saliva has on our daily lives is immeasurable, though it\u2019s often overlooked or unappreciated. This Thanksgiving, as you and your loved ones are gathering around the table and showing gratefulness, it wouldn\u2019t hurt to give saliva a shout-out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here at Winthrop Street Dentistry, we\u2019re thrilled to offer patients and families in the Worcester, MA community an unrivaled level of dental care! Under the talented leadership of Dr. Evan Yu and Dr. Harry Golnazarian, we provide a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services. If you have any questions about the blog or you\u2019d like to set up a visit for you or a loved one, feel free to contact the practice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winthropstreetdentistry.com\/contact.html\">online<\/a> or over the phone for assistance. <strong>Telephone: (508) 756-0990.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As Thanksgiving approaches, we often reflect on the things that we are thankful for\u2014family, good food, health, and happiness to name just a few. Yet, there\u2019s one unsung hero within our bodies that rarely gets the credit it deserves: saliva! This fluid plays a very vital role in our overall health and well-being, and it [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Reasons To Be Thankful For Your Saliva | Winthrop Street Dentistry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are several things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, including your saliva! 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