In order to maintain great oral health, you must be visiting a dentist on a regular basis and brushing and flossing at least twice a day. However, many people don't realize that another way to maintain great oral health is to keep themselves hydrated throughout the day. Here are the benefits of doing this:
Prevents Dry Mouth:
If you are not well hydrated throughout the day, you can experience dry mouth, which is common to experience in the morning when you first wake up since your mouth has gone a while without water. Dry mouth can cause halitosis (bad breath), but more severe than that, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow and attack the gums, which can cause gum disease. Dry mouth becomes excessively severe for those who are regular drinkers and smokers. To avoid dry mouth, drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning and be sure that you are drinking water throughout the day to prevent your mouth from easily becoming dry during the night.
Prevents Cavities:
Since dry mouth creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, this also means that you are more susceptible to cavities, especially at night. Cavities are caused by food and other sugary items that can get stuck near the gums and start eating away at the teeth. To avoid this, drink water during meals to wash away food and be sure that you swish water in your mouth after drinking any sugary drinks such as soda to rinse away the acidic properties left behind.
Strengthens Tooth Enamel:
This is a fact that is not well known. Water does, in fact, strengthen tooth enamel, especially since it removes harmful acids and other bacteria that can eat away at it. You may have heard that tooth enamel is the strongest mineral in the body, but this doesn't mean that it can protect itself against any harmful bacteria that grows in your mouth. This should never be ignored.
By knowing the benefits of drinking water for your oral health, you can better understand how important drinking water really is. You can also begin to get in the habit of drinking more water throughout the day, which will also help contribute to weight loss, gained energy and more. Your body will definitely thank you for it all around, which is really important for living a long and healthy life. For more information on maintaining your smile, talk to a dentist like Richard L. Myers, DDS.
Share