Water is essential for your overall health, but what else does it do? Drinking water can also impact your dental health.
It keeps your mouth clean and prevents tooth decay. But it’s necessary to understand how it interacts with your oral health to help you keep your teeth and gums in shape.
In this article, we will discuss how drinking water maintains the optimal condition of your mouth and teeth and other very important facts related to dental health.
The Reasons Why Water is Good for Oral Hygiene?
Drinking water is one of the easiest ways to take excellent care of your teeth. Water moistens your mouth and prevents conditions like xerostomia (dry mouth).
A dry mouth is a condition in which your body doesn’t produce enough saliva to properly protect your dental health. This can leave you uncomfortable and potentially lead to more serious dental issues. It might be a symptom of serious systemic disease or side effects of some medications.
Saliva acts as a buffer and helps wash food from your teeth, thus preventing cavities by providing a natural defense against bacterial acid production. Therefore, regular water consumption ultimately balances the health of your mouth.
Water, especially fluoridated water, is good as it solidifies your tooth enamel. Fluoride is a mineral that helps protect teeth against decay by making enamel more durable and acid-resistant against attacks from plaque bacteria and mouth sugars. So, the simple act of drinking water has much to do with your oral health.
How Water Keeps Your Mouth Clean and Cavity-Free?
One big reason drinking water matters so much in oral health is that it keeps your mouth clean.
Drinking water rinses the mouth of food debris and cavity-causing bacteria. Thus, it helps to prevent the development of plaque. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on your teeth and inside the gums, which could develop into cavities and gum diseases if not washed out.
Bacteria in your mouth produce acids when they digest food residues buried between your teeth. These acids can erode the tooth enamel over time, leading to tooth cavities and other complications. Staying hydrated and drinking water throughout the day may counteract these acids, aiding teeth protection from decay.
Additionally, every time you drink a sweet or sour beverage, your teeth are exposed to decay factors. Water, on the other hand, would naturally clean the mouth without introducing any harmful components into the system.
The Role of Fluoridated Water in Oral Health
Fluoridated water is one of the best drinks for dental health. It contains fluoride, an active mineral that naturally occurs and can reduce the chances of decay. Most communities have additives in their public water supply to make plain water enough to protect teeth.
Fluoridated water further strengthens your teeth by hardening the enamel and making it more resistant to acid. This is very important because your enamel is the first defense line for your teeth against the bacteria that leads to cavities. So, if you reinforce your enamel with fluoride, you rarely get cavities and other dental issues.
Although bottled water is popular with many people, it’s important to realize that bottled water does not contain fluoride. If you drink only bottled water, you might miss the direct advantages that fluoridated tap water has to offer for your teeth. Therefore, prefer to select fluoridated water.
Tips for Drinking More Water for Better Oral Health.
Here are some tips on increasing your water intake while simultaneously maintaining healthy teeth.
Make it a habit to carry a reusable water bottle with you at all times. A water bottle next to you can facilitate taking frequent sips and, therefore, help you stay hydrated. This simple behavior could help keep your mouth clean and decrease the risk of dry mouth.
Another simple but effective way is to set reminders on your phone or computer to drink one glass of water at every interval during the day. These small reminders keep you on track to better health and adequate water intake.
Make water part of your routine: when you wake up, before your meals, and before retiring to bed. These small bits can make large differences in oral health.
Another way you can boost your dental health is by replacing sugary or acidic drinks with water. Drinks high in sugar lead to a loss of teeth, while acidic ones wear down the enamel over time. Choosing water reduces your chances of developing cavities and protects your teeth from these harmful acids.
If you don’t like it plain, add a slice of lemon or cucumber for flavor. This way, drinking water can be fun, yet you still get hydration benefits. Just remember there are a lot of acids in citrus fruits that can take a toll on your enamel if indulged in large amounts, so eat them in moderation.
Incorporate these into your life to make drinking more water easier, and support your oral health too.
FAQs
Will drinking water prevent cavities?
Yes. Drinking water washes away food particles and bacteria that lead to cavities.
Is tap water better for oral health?
Tap water often contains fluoride, which is beneficial for good oral health. However, you should not forget the quality of tap water. Most of the time, tap water is unhygienic and rich in bacteria. If that’s the case in your area, avoid drinking tap water.
How much water should I drink daily for better oral health?
Minimally, you should drink at least 8 cups of water a day to ensure good oral health.
The Takeaway
The most basic and effective way to maintain tooth health is to drink water. This will help rehydrate the mouth and prevent dry mouth, washing away particles of food and bacteria that can cause tooth decay. Additionally, the fluoride in the water will further protect by hardening tooth enamel and rendering it less susceptible to cavities.
Incorporating more water into your daily routine is easy and can have significant benefits for your dental health. You can carry a water bottle, set reminders to drink more or choose water over sugary beverages—small steps that make big differences.
