Water and Your Smile

You have probably heard many, many times that drinking water is important. Yet, do you know why? 60% of the human body is made up of water. For your bodily systems to function correctly, they need adequate hydration. Most people do not consume enough water each day. It is recommended that people drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day, but most people drink less than half of the recommendation.

It is important to remember that the mouth is a “bodily system.” It is easy to think of the nervous system and circulatory system as “systems” of the body, but neglecting to consider the mouth as a whole is dangerous to your overall health. There is a direct link between the health of the mouth and the health of the entire body. Many diseases can be directly linked to the health of the teeth and gums: diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, preterm labor, low birth-weight babies, and miscarriage. Neglecting your oral health can lead to severe health problems with devastating consequences.

How Water Benefits Your Smile

Water benefits your smile in many ways, but here are the top three ways to understand the importance of water to your oral health:

• Water Strengthens Your Teeth – In 1951, the U.S. Public Health Service made the decision to add fluoride to the US water systems in cities and suburbs. Millions of Americans were unable to afford or have easy access to dental care, and they were suffering from tooth decay. Fluoride was added to the water to combat this devastating issue. Fluoride is a natural mineral that strengthens tooth enamel. Therefore, by simply drinking fluoridated water, you are helping your smile stay healthy.
• Water Washes Your Teeth – While there is no substitute for flossing and brushing twice a day, water helps keep your teeth clean throughout the day. There are millions of acid-producing bacteria inside your mouth that cause cavities and tooth erosion. Drinking water helps to rinse away these damaging bacteria, cleaning your mouth with every sip.
• Water Moistens Your Mouth – A dry mouth is more than just uncomfortable. A dry mouth allows oral bacteria to easily adhere to the teeth in plaque and tartar buildup. Saliva is the mouth’s first defense against oral bacteria, yet, saliva production is correlated to how hydrated the body is. Drinking more water helps keep your body hydrated so that the mouth increases saliva production.

At Ora Dentistry, we want to encourage you to make drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day a goal for 2021. Your smile will thank you!