Producing Saliva and Drinking Water. Saliva is important for diluting the toxins created by plaque. Of particular interest is a 2000 study on nitrite, a substance in saliva whose concentration increased after eating foods containing nitrates. Nitrite converts to the gas nitric oxide (NO), which, under acidic conditions, may prevent the growth and survival of bacteria involved in periodontal disease.
Drinking at least seven glasses of water a day helps reduce inflammation in the mouth by producing more saliva. Increasing water intake is particularly important as one ages, when less saliva is produced.
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