According to health experts, people should drink at least 64 ounces of water per day. Drinking the right amount of water is essential for staying hydrated and of course, your oral health. If you aren’t drinking enough water per day, you’re missing out on all the oral health benefits. Discover all the oral health benefits of drinking water.
Water Helps Prevents Stains and Cavities
One of the first ways drinking water benefits your oral health is by preventing stains and cavities. When you wash down food, or drinks like coffee or wine, the water helps wash away bacteria. Without washing away this bacteria, it can form an acid that will break down your enamel and lead to tooth decay. When water washes away bacteria, it also prevents it from sticking around and turning into plaque. Plaque can then lead to surface stains and if it’s not removed with brushing and flossing, it can harden into tartar. Without professional dental cleaning, the tartar can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. If you want to avoid stains, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water after and between meals.
It Helps Fight Bad Breath and Dry Mouth
One of the causes of bad breath is having a dry mouth. When there is no water or saliva there to wash away bacteria from your mouth, the bacteria just stay put inside your mouth. If you’re wondering why your breath smells so bad when you wake up, it’s because the bacteria has been sitting in your mouth all night instead of getting washed down your throat. By drinking a lot of water, it can help you fight dry mouth and bad breath! As for bad morning breath, this is pretty normal. Just make sure you’re brushing and flossing before bed and brushing again when you wake up. If you still suffer from bad breath outside of this, please contact our Midtown Manhattan dentist for bad breath treatment.
It Strengthens Teeth
Drinking water also strengthens your teeth. This is because most public water sources contain fluoride which is the same active ingredient in your toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens the tooth structure, makes it resistant to decay, and promotions remineralization which repairs the early stages of tooth decay.
Bonus: It Contains No Calories or Sugar!
If you’re looking for another reason to drink more water for your oral health, remember that water doesn’t contain calories or sugar! Sugar is one of the leading causes of tooth decay. By simply swapping out sports drinks or soft drinks for water, you’re reducing the amount of sugar that can potentially damage your teeth. As a bonus, water doesn’t contain calories. If you’re trying to enhance your overall health, it never hurts to drink more water and less sugary drinks. Water also won’t stain your teeth. Drink all the water you want. If you opt for carbonated water, although this doesn’t contain sugar, it is acidic and can enamel erosion. Drink carbonated water in moderation like any soft drink.
Schedule Your Next Dental Cleaning in Midtown Manhattan
If you want to enhance your oral health outside of drinking more water, it’s important to never skip a dental cleaning. Let our Midtown Manhattan dentist clean your teeth and examine you for potential decay or gum disease. If you do require treatment or bad breath treatment, we are happy to help. Contact Appolon Dental Care at (212) 557-8668 to book your next appointment today.
