Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day and using mouthwash daily are probably what come to mind when you think about your oral hygiene routine. However, there’s a hidden third step that has major benefits to your oral health! Drinking plenty of water ensures you are looking after your body and can prevent many dental issues. Here’s what hydration can do for your oral health.
The Effects of Hydration on Your Smile
Water keeps you hydrated, gives you important nutrients, and removes waste from the body. Here are some of the oral health benefits hydration has to offer:
- Strengthens your teeth – Drinking water with fluoride is one of the easiest and most beneficial things you can do to prevent cavities.
- Saliva production – Drinking water fights off dry mouth and bad breath and allows saliva production to function as usual. Saliva is your mouth’s first defense against bacterial growth, tooth decay, and food particles. In short, water keeps your mouth cleaner.
- Preventing tooth decay – Rinsing your mouth with water after having something sugary can dilute the acid in your mouth.
- Preventing gingivitis – Dry gums recede away from your teeth and collect plaque bacteria. If you’re drinking lots of water, your gums will stay hydrated, clean, and comfortable.
- Teeth whitening – Water helps prevent the formation of stains on your teeth. Swish water in your mouth after you eat or drink pigment-rich foods or beverages to maintain a brighter, whiter smile.
How to Make Sure You’re Drinking Enough Water
Everyone’s body is different, so there’s no rule set in stone about how much water you should be drinking in a day. In general, make sure you’re drinking whenever you’re thirsty and stopping when you’re not. However, studies have shown that thirst is not the best indicator for whether or not you’re hydrated. Some people naturally have less sensitivity to thirst.
Make sure to keep a water bottle on hand that you can easily refill throughout the day. Eating fruits and vegetables with high water content can also hydrate you, but water is always the best method for hydration.
You can infuse your water with lemons, limes, oranges, cucumber, watermelon, strawberries, or herbs to offer some variety if drinking water alone isn’t something you’re used to. It can also be helpful to tie drinking water to a routine! For instance, drink a glass every time you brush your teeth, eat a meal, or use the bathroom.
About the Author
Dr. Kathy Lam values providing high quality care to satisfy every patients’ unique dental needs. Her services range from routine checkups and cleanings to state-of-the art dental implant restorations to cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Lam is happy to help you achieve all your smile goals. In order to catch oral health issues at their earliest stages, Dr. Lam is proud to offer your standard six-month checkups and cleanings, as well as oral cancer screenings, fluoride treatments, and nightguards. If you want more information on how to protect your teeth, contact Dr. Lam at her website or by phone at (630) 653-7720.