Brushing, flossing, and rinsing are all part of a good oral hygiene routine, but in maintaining a healthy mouth and set of teeth, your routine only has the battle. Since your food and drink pass through your mouth when you consume them, what you eat and drink has direct and indirect effects on your teeth.
We all know that water is one of the healthiest things you can drink. Proper hydration helps our bodies move nutrients to the right places, clean out waste, keep our muscles functioning in tip-top shape, and more.
It’s so good for you in fact, that water is by far the best drink for your teeth as well. Here are some of the benefits water provides for your smile.
Water Keeps Your Mouth Clean
Any drink can technically “wash away” things in your mouth. The problem is that juice, soda, and sports drinks leave behind sugars that bacteria convert into acid (which damages your teeth). Coffee and tea are a bit better, but they do stain your teeth.
Water, on the other hand, helps wash away food particles that may have gotten stuck in your mouth. Plus, it dilutes any acid present in your mouth, reducing the effects on your teeth. Sip water throughout the day alongside your normal oral hygiene routine.
Water Strengthens Your Teeth
Fluoridated water can strengthen your teeth thanks to the fluoride contained within.
How does fluoride strengthen your teeth, though?
It helps fight tooth decay through remineralization.
See, certain types of bacteria in dental plaque break down sugars into acids, which wear away at your enamel and the layer below it, dentin. It does this by draining the minerals that give your teeth the hard texture they have.
Fluoride helps to “remineralize” your teeth by becoming chemically incorporated into your teeth.
You likely can get fluoridated water by drinking from the tap, so drink up!
Water Fights Dry Mouth
Saliva is normally responsible for assisting in the breakdown of food, washing away spare food particles, and keeping your teeth strong with minerals. When your saliva is running low, you’re at a higher risk for tooth decay, not to mention that dry mouth isn’t very comfortable.
Saliva is about 98% water, so drinking water regularly should help prevent dry mouth. If you do experience dry mouth, though, water can hold you over as your dentist works to find a long-term solution to your problem.
Water has No Calories and No Sugar
We already went over how sugar consumption can be bad for your teeth. The majority of calories in most drinks come from sugars, so by sticking with water, you’re doing pretty well.
In addition, excess sugar consumption can lead to weight gain as well as potential diseases like heart disease. So by drinking water regularly, you’re keeping your whole body healthy.
Overall, drinking water is a good move for your general health as well as your oral health. But as always, make sure you’re visiting a dentist regularly to ensure your teeth and mouth are in excellent condition. Schedule an appointment with Absolute Smile today.
