You probably already know that drinking water is crucial for staying healthy and hydrated. But did you also know that it specifically benefits your dental health as well? Regularly drinking water helps lower your risk of dental disease, brighten your smile, and much more. In this blog, we’ll explore what makes water so good for your teeth.
How is water good for your teeth?
There are quite a few ways in which water aids in protecting your oral health, from fighting off dry mouth to helping strengthen tooth enamel. Drinking water keeps your mouth clean, lowers your risk of gum disease, fights plaque and cavities, and even helps prevent stains. Here are six reasons why water is good for your teeth.
#1: Fluoride Boost
Fluoride is an element naturally found in the earth’s crust. All the water around us—including the water we drink—naturally contains fluoride. And, many towns and cities add regulated levels of fluoride to tap water for their residents. Every time you drink water, you’re providing an additional boost of tooth enamel-protecting fluoride to your teeth. Strong enamel helps protect against cavities and tooth decay. Keep in mind that this does not necessarily apply to bottled water or filtered water.
#2: Lowered Gum Disease Risk
Every time you drink water, the liquid helps wash away harmful bacteria and food particles in your mouth. Water keeps those bacteria and particles from clinging to teeth and forming plaque, the main cause of gum disease. Not only does gum disease cause discomfort, swelling, and bleeding, but it can also cause severe tooth decay, tooth loss, and even bone loss if left untreated.
#3: Cavity-Fighting Power
Water keeps your mouth clean and helps fight cavities. When plaque buildup eats away at the tooth’s hard enamel coating, it creates a small hole in the tooth called a cavity. The bacteria can then get inside the hole, leading to painful sensitivity. It’s important to remember cavities are not just for kids—adults are at risk of tooth decay as well. The more water you drink, the less likely you are to develop cavities.
#4: No Dry Mouth
Increased water consumption helps ensure that dry mouth never becomes a problem. Dry mouth is a condition where the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva. When that happens, bacteria and food particles can stick to your teeth more easily, causing issues like gum disease and cavities. Dry mouth also causes bad breath and can even impact your tongue, making it hard to speak, taste, and chew.
#5: Helps Whiten Teeth
Water can even help whiten your teeth. Drinking water helps ensure dark-colored beverages and foods do not leave stains on your teeth. Water washes the colored residues these foods and drinks leave behind. When you’re drinking red wine, coffee, tea, and dark sodas, or eating tomato sauce, pomegranates, or blueberries, we suggest drinking water between sips and bites to help prevent stains.
#6: Keeps the Entire Body Healthy
Water is vital to your overall health. Illness or infection in other parts of your body can affect your oral health and vice versa. The healthier your body is, the easier it will be to fight illnesses like diabetes and heart disease that also impact your oral health.
Keeping Your Mouth Healthy in Flagstaff
Drinking plenty of water every day is essential for keeping your mouth and the rest of your body healthy. The medical community suggests drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day. While that may seem like a tall order, it’s surprising how easy it is to get your daily water in when you have a glass at your desk or a bottle with you in the car.
If you’d like more tips for increasing your water intake, ask us at your next visit! Call Country Club Dental in Flagstaff today at 928-526-4314 to talk to one of our friendly team members and schedule a dental cleaning appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (1/7/22). Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
