Need Another Reason to Drink Water? It’s Preventive Care for Your Teeth
It’s difficult not to see an ad, article, or public service announcement encouraging you to drink more water. From regulating your digestion to enhancing your skin and supporting a healthy diet, you’ve likely heard plenty about how good water is for you. After all, water is life.
Sipping water—especially fluoridated water—throughout the day is also beneficial for your teeth. Here are some real implications of drinking more water for your mouth’s health.
Fights Dry Mouth
Saliva is a robust defense against tooth decay. It’s almost entirely water, and it’s the primary mechanism your body uses to help repair your tooth enamel daily. Saliva helps rid your mouth of leftover food particles and cleanses your teeth with phosphate, fluoride, and calcium, essential nutrients that keep your teeth strong. Conversely, a lack of saliva can cause plaque buildup, which prevents saliva from reaching the enamel to do its job, and voila: dry mouth and cavities.
Cleans Your Mouth Throughout the Day
Every time you take a sip of water, you’re disrupting and flushing out food residue that builds up and some of the harmful bacteria that contribute to cavities. Water also rinses out the acids that those bacteria produce when they linger in your mouth. That also means you’re less likely to have bad breath.
Strengthens Your Teeth
Fluoride is great for strengthening teeth and preventing cavities. This is great news because fluoride is likely in your tap water. Communities with fluoridated water, which contains this naturally occurring mineral, tend to have better overall oral health than those without fluoride in their drinking water. You can contact your local government to find out if your water supply is fluoridated.
Fights Stains
If you drink beverages or eat foods that can stain your teeth, you don’t need to cut them out of your diet. Drinking plenty of water can help protect them. Flushing out the residue from coffee, tea, dark-colored berries, tomato sauce, or red wine helps keep your teeth naturally whiter. When enjoying these foods or drinks, be sure to drink water between sips or bites to rinse away residue before it has a chance to leave unsightly stains.
Stay Hydrated to Support Your Dental Health
Supporting your oral health efforts can be as simple as drinking plenty of water. Try to keep a bottle or glass of water with you throughout the day until it becomes a habit. At Beckham Square Family Dental, we can offer additional guidance to help you preserve your oral health between check-ups. Also, be sure to stay on top of your regular preventive care and professional cleanings by using our contact form to schedule your next office visit.