Since the human body consists primarily of water, we know that we need to drink water to sustain our good health. But you might not realize that adequate hydration is crucial to keeping your smile looking and feeling its best too.
Dentists and health experts agree that you should drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to stay hydrated. You may need to drink more to compensate for dehydrating agents consumed, like caffeine. Read on to find three of the many benefits that drinking plenty of water will bring to your smile.
How Does Drinking Water Help My Smile?
Boost Oral Hygiene
We practice oral hygiene to make our mouths feel fresh but also to stop plaque and other harmful residues from hurting our teeth and gums. Oral bacteria form plaque naturally, so we need to routinely remove it so that it does not eat away at our dental structure. We do this by brushing our teeth and flossing.
But we also consume foods and drinks that contribute to plaque formation in between our teeth-brushing regimens. You can rinse these residues from your teeth along with lingering food particles by drinking water.
This will give your oral hygiene a boost, especially after a meal, making your smile healthier and look its best. You can also reduce your risk of forming bad breath this way.
Fight Dry Mouth
When you become dehydrated, you can face a number of health consequences, including your oral health. Low hydration levels will cause you to produce less saliva, and then you may be left with dry mouth.
Not only does this feel uncomfortable, but dry mouth will also create an environment where bacteria can spread with greater ease across your teeth. Then you will have a higher risk of oral infections, including gum disease. Gum disease can cause major structural damage to your smile, even tooth loss without urgent dental intervention.
You will require treatment from your dentist to get rid of gum disease. It does not go away on its own. So dentists promote preventative care when it comes to gum health. Avoid gum disease by fighting dry mouth by staying hydrated. If you suspect dry mouth is chronic and caused by an underlying issue unrelated to hydration, tell your dentist to better preserve your oral health.
Strengthen Dental Structure
Drinking certain types of water can make your teeth stronger. Tap water for instance will often contain fluoride, a natural mineral that absorbs into the tooth enamel and fortifies it.
This will make your teeth better able to resist surface stains, tooth decay, and more. You can spend less time and money at your dentist’s office when you reduce your risk of getting cavities in this way. A dentist can treat a cavity with ease, but ideally, you should preserve the natural structure of your smile. Learn more about preventative dental care by calling your dentist in Bensalem, PA at 215.770.1081.