Will Drinking More Water Protect My Teeth?
When you think of taking care of your teeth, brushing and flossing most likely spring to your mind first – and they should because these healthy oral hygiene habits are essential to oral health. There are, however, other things you can do to protect the health of your teeth, such as drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated.
3 Ways Drinking Water Helps Protect Your Teeth
There are three primary ways drinking water protects your teeth.
1. Wash Away Acid and Bacteria
The bacteria and acid in your mouth are responsible for tooth decay. Drinking plenty of water helps to rinse harmful bacteria and acid away from the surfaces of your teeth to prevent tooth decay.
2. Strengthen Tooth Enamel
Fluoridated water also helps to fortify and strengthen your tooth enamel both topically and from within.
3. Prevent Dry Mouth
When you produce less saliva (due to dehydration), your body does not effectively rinse bacteria and acid from your mouth. It also doesn’t remineralize tooth enamel very effectively.
Why Water Is the Best Beverage Choice
Water has zero calories and nothing in it – like sugar or acid – that can harm your tooth enamel. A glass of water is simple and pure hydration for your body.
How Much Water Should You Drink Each Day
To ensure you are adequately hydrated, it’s important to drink enough water throughout the day, every day. According to research from the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, women should drink about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) and men should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids each day.
This, of course, can increase or decrease depending on your physical activity and environment. For example, if you run a 5K in a hot, dry climate, you’re going to dehydrate more quickly and need to take in additional fluids.
How Else Can You Protect Your Teeth?
Drinking water is a simple way to keep your teeth healthy and your body hydrated. There are lots of additional ways to protect the health of your teeth each day such as eating a healthy diet, brushing and flossing regularly, getting dental sealants, asking for professional fluoride treatments, and scheduling a dental checkup and professional cleaning every six months.
To schedule your next dental exam in Orange, California, we welcome you to contact Dr. Christopher J. Fotinos Dr. Randy A. Rosales Cosmetic & General Dentistry today.
