MacBook potentially overheating after reassembly.

Hi! I recently disassembled my MacBook after some water spilled on the keyboard and I’m curious if I should reapply thermal paste to the CPU.

When the water spilled I turned the machine upside down, held down the power button to shut it off and took out the cable. I dabbed off the water with a towel, kept it upside down and took it apart two days later.

Inside I found no evidence of water damage, just a lot of dust. The existing thermal paste was completely dried out and barely present on the surface of the CPU/heatsink. However I didn’t have paste available to reapply and decided to put the machine back together.

Everything’s been working fine, however I do notice the fan running more persistently and the machine does seem to be heating up a good deal under normal usage, which involves nothing more than typing, surfing the web, listening to music and watching videos.

I’m wondering if such a difference is perhaps due to the disassembly and whatever effect that might’ve had to the dried up thermal paste?

Thanks.