Is drinking water healthy for your teeth?

Water the elixir of life

Water has been hailed by all as the elixir of life. We cannot disagree. Water is very important for our survival as is air. Water is a vital nutrient for every living cell in the body. Did you know that up to 60% of adult human body is made up of water? Water plays an important role in regular bodily functions like maintaining the temperature of the body, flushing out waste from the body, lubricating joints, formation of saliva and as a shock absorber for brain and spinal cord too. Hydration is key to good health also.

So does drinking water also keep our teeth healthy?

Absolutely yes! There are a number of ways in which drinking water helps in keeping our teeth healthy. Let us see how water helps our teeth.

1. Water helps remove all the debris that remains in the mouth after we eat something. When you rinse your mouth with water after eating the small particles which would otherwise be stuck on or in between our teeth get removed.
2. Rinsing your mouth with water also helps get rid of the bacteria in your mouth which means cleaner mouth and lesser chance of cavities.
3. Water also reduces the pH of the mouth thereby neutralizing the acids in the mouth which attack the enamel of the tooth. So drinking water or rinsing the mouth with water protects the enamel and prevents cavities.
4. Water helps in the formation of saliva. Our body cannot make saliva without water. Saliva also is alkaline in nature and helps reduce the acidity in the mouth.
5. It is difficult for plaque to build up in a mouth which is hydrated. It is easier for plaque to stick to dry teeth and gums.
6. Drinking less water can lead to dehydration and one of the first things the body does when dehydrated is produce little or no saliva which results in dry mouth. A dry mouth means more bacterial build up in the mouth. So drinking water helps fight cavity producing bacteria.
7. If you are drinking water that contains fluoride then it can also help in restoring lost enamel of the teeth. You can read more about the benefits of fluoride in our blogs – Minerals, Vitamins and Teeth and also Fluoride Myths and Facts. In Fluoride treatment for children blog we talk about strengthening teeth of children using the fluoride treatment. Do check them out.
8. Water also nourishes the soft tissue and mucous membranes in the mouth. This helps in avoiding cold sore and ulcers. In a dry mouth there is more friction between the soft tissues which can exacerbate cold sores.
9. Dry mouth can also lead to bad breath because dry mouth is perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Keeping the mouth hydrated means fresher breath.
10. Rinsing your mouth with water also helps remove the stains from your teeth.
11. Besides keeping teeth healthy drinking water has other benefits like helping losing weight too J.

Is drinking all types of water good for teeth?

We have fairly established so far that drinking water is good for your oral health. Does this mean all types of water is good for you. Let us make it clear here that water in any form is the best beverage one can have. It is any day better than any sugary drink.

1. Tap water – Plain tap water can help hydrate the mouth and keep it healthy but the amount of fluoride that occurs naturally in this water is insufficient to fight cavity build up in the mouth. Also note that tap water may not be drinkable in all countries and may need to be boiled and filtered before drinking it.
2. Sparkling water – Sparkling water is also better than a sugary drink but then sparkling water contains higher acid levels as compared to regular tap water. And this may increase the damage to the enamel of your teeth.
3. Fluoridate water – This is one of the best type of water to drink for your oral health. It prevent tooth decay, it is safe to drink by all people from children to the elderly. If you drink fluoridated water in combination with using toothpaste and mouthwash which has fluoride you are taking the best measure possible to protect your teeth from dental issues.

Best time to drink water for good oral health

So when is the best time to have water in order to have good oral health.

1. Drinking water 30 minutes before eating can help digestion and rinsing the mouth after eating can protect your teeth.
2. Rinse your mouth immediately after consuming food items like onion and garlic or drinking tea or coffee which can stain your teeth.
3. Swirl water in your mouth before going to sleep and as soon as you get up.

Hydration is key to good health

In the end we would like to conclude that there is nothing more natural than water for good oral and overall health. Drinking water is most common form of hydration but people also get water from juice, milk, coffee, tea, soda, fruits, vegetables, etc. As per National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine a healthy adult male must have 3.7 lts (125 ounces) and a healthy adult female must have 2.7 lts (91 ounces) of total water daily. And yes there is such a thing as being over hydrated too. It is rare but drinking too much water can reduce the salts in the body and can be really dangerous.

Stay hydrated. Stay Healthy. Hope you found this blog interesting and informative. If you liked this blog do share it with your family and friends.

Call Ensure Dental Care, your family dentist at Saginaw Texas on 940-274-3229 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Ensure Dental Care is the one of the best family dental clinics at Saginaw Texas. Follow us on instagram @ensuredentalcaresaginawtx for offers, deals and more. We accept all major insurance providers.