You can do lots of things to protect your teeth and keep them looking white and bright, but there’s one thing that you’re probably already doing regularly. Drinking water not only helps us stay hydrated, but it’s also great for the teeth. Here are a few reasons why drinking water is good for oral health.
Get Rid Of Bacteria
After you eat a meal, you might notice some food debris caught in your teeth. If left alone, this food can become a meal to bacteria. This bacteria breaks down the food and releases acid and an unpleasant odor, commonly known as bad breath or halitosis. You may not have access to floss after every single meal, but drinking water can be helpful to wash away excess debris and bacteria. Drinking a full glass of water after eating is a simple solution to eliminate bacteria and their cavity-creating acid.
Create Saliva
Saliva is an essential part of our digestive system and contributes to better oral health. As mentioned above, drinking water can get rid of bacteria that grow in the mouth. Making sure to drink water regularly will keep your saliva glands working so they can wash away food debris and bacteria lingering in the mouth after a meal. Saliva will also reduce the risk of gum disease and decay. Not to mention, dry mouth, or the lack of saliva, can be quite uncomfortable. If you want to keep your teeth in good condition and your mouth hydrated, drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
Protect Enamel
We all know that teeth are just bones, but unlike the rest of our skeleton, they are covered in an incredibly hard material called enamel. Without enamel, our teeth would be exposed, and we’d have a more challenging time chewing without pain. The enamel protects the bone underneath from exposure and keeps them healthy enough to work throughout our lives.
The bacteria in the mouth, as we mentioned above, create an acid that can erode the enamel on the teeth if left unattended. Drinking a glass of water after a meal will wash this acid away, or prevent it from being created in the first place. This means that your enamel will stay hard enough to protect the tooth underneath.
Stay Hydrated
If you want your oral health to be in tiptop shape, pay attention to the rest of your needs as well, since everything is connected. If you are feeling dehydrated, chances are you need to have a glass of water, which will have the added benefit of protecting your teeth. Drinking plain water, without flavorings, is the best way to get hydrated and simultaneously preserve your teeth. And contrary to popular belief, bottled water isn’t the best option for your dental health. Most cities in the US add fluoride to the public water system. Fluoride is a chemical that helps remineralize the teeth. In other words, the fluoride helps make the enamel over our teeth harder, preventing cavities from forming. Choosing tap water over bottled (in places where it is safe to drink) is often a better choice for oral health.
Drinking water is the simplest way to take care of your teeth. If you need a bit of extra professional assistance with your dental health, contact the professionals with Newton Dental Associates today to get your teeth back on track.
