Dry Mouth

Ever notice that when you get tired, your eyes get dry or your mouth gets dry?  Well, for most of us, this is our body shutting off the water for the night.  This has implications for your mouth and your overall health because your natural oral protector, your saliva, is reduced while you sleep.  If you haven't cleaned your teeth well before bed, then the bacteria still in your mouth can have a party all night long!  They build up tartar, which are essentially large colonies of attached bacteria to your teeth.  This situation can lead to gum disease and more cavities.
Another possible contributing factor to dry mouth during the day is that of dehydration.  Many of us don't drink enough water, which may cause a lowering of our immune defenses.  Even though it may mean more trips to the bathroom, we need to drink water in order to maintain our health, including our saliva.  Cheers!