Will heatstroke affect your teeth and gums?
Dr. Suresh Amarnathan, BDS.,
Heatstroke (or) Sunstroke is a heat-related illness that is more prevalent in summertime. This condition is often a synonym for “body overheating” occurs due to the prolonged exposure of the body to the heat temperatures. When the body temperature rises to 40 degrees Celsius or higher. Our bodies cannot bear such extreme temperatures in those circumstances.
It is exhibited as various health issues like fainting, headaches, etc. Despite it seems a normal problem, it should be addressed immediately else it will lead to death.
Adults over 65, people who indulged in the military, sports training, people suffering from body temperature problems like hypothermia are highly vulnerable to the bodily disorders associated with the heat-related illness. Likewise, they encounter various adverse effects on their oral health also.
What are the symptoms of heatstroke?
As the excess heat has compromised the body’s ability to cool down, it is exhibited as various problems as follows:
- Dizziness
- Difficulty in breathing
- Muscle cramps
- Disorientation
- Headaches
- Palpitation
- Nausea
Besides these, your oral health also emits some heat-related warnings but many people give the least attention to them.
How does heatstroke affect your dental health?
The oral complications that arise due to sunstroke begin when the heat temperature makes your body lose more fluids than you consume. This condition is clinically termed dehydration. It will reduce the salivary flow in your mouth. It is the reason behind you are feel dryness in the mouth during the summer season.
Saliva is not just to swish your mouth but it is a natural defense system of our oral cavity. It is because saliva holds antibacterial compounds, enzymes along with water so that the fluid can evacuate the harmful microbial agents living in the mouth. Moreover, saliva contains mineral compounds such as calcium, copper, sodium, magnesium, bicarbonates, organic phosphates, etc. They are responsible for remineralization purposes to strengthen the enamel.
In simply, saliva is a natural cleansing agent and helps strengthen your teeth as well as mitigate the acidic environment in the mouth. It clearly shows that a shortage of saliva will tend to bacteria thrive inside the mouth. It provokes the following oral complications:
- Bad breath
- Cavities
- Increased plaque
- Gum diseases
- Mouth Sores
- Frequent burning sensation in oral tissues
You should indulge in necessary activities to prevent heatstroke to avoid such dental damages.
What should you do to combat heatstroke?
You should keep yourselves hydrated to balance the high temperature as well as regulate body temperature. Hence you should drink more water every day. Here are some tips to combat sunstroke:
- Place a humidifier in your room
- Utilize a sunscreen SPF 50 or higher
- Prefer lightweight clothing
- Wear a cap or hat
- Stay in shade regions to limit your exposure to the sun
Meanwhile, many people practice certain activities that are harmful to our teeth but they are unaware of this fact. Here are some of the hydrating activities that are hard on our teeth:
- Chewing ice cubes
- Eating ice-creams
- Drinking cool drinks excessively
We are telling this because the artificial sweeteners in ice creams and soft drinks feed oral bacteria to flourish in your mouth. Instead, prefer natural drinks like coconut water, water-rich fruits, and vegetables
Do you want to know more about the impact of sunstroke on teeth and gums? Or need more dental-friendly hydrating tips to prevent heatstroke? Contact us here. We are ready to help.
