The benefits of drinking plenty of water are well documented for overall health, especially when you consider bodies are about 60% water. Staying hydrated eliminates toxins and ensures that cells are hydrated so that organs can function properly and that the skin is glowing. However, drinking plenty of water isn’t just great for overall health, as it is essential for good oral health.
Keeping Your Mouth Cleaner
When your mouth is drier, it creates the ideal conditions for harmful bacteria to thrive, so drinking plenty of water helps to keep your mouth clean, moist and more comfortable. Water also helps to wash away loose particles of food, so if you can, rinse your mouth with water after eating. Drinking a glass of water after getting up in the morning can also help fight bad breath. As your mouth is drier overnight, bacteria that cause morning breath can thrive.
Preventing Dehydration
If you are dehydrated, your mouth becomes drier and less comfortable, and you most likely cannot produce enough saliva to keep it clean and fresh. You need to drink water so your body can produce plenty of saliva, a fluid that helps to protect your teeth and ensures you can chew food more comfortably. Saliva contains digestive enzymes that help begin the process of digestion in the mouth.
Strengthening Teeth
Drinking fluoridated tap water helps protect against tooth decay in Oshawa. It ensures your saliva contains fluoride, helping to prevent plaque buildup, and the fluoride in your saliva helps to re-harden teeth after demineralization. This process occurs when you eat anything very sugary or high in carbohydrates or which is acidic.
During demineralization, minerals including calcium and phosphate are removed from your tooth enamel, leaving it slightly softened and more vulnerable to developing cavities. After a while, your mouth becomes less acidic, a process that usually takes at least half an hour and is helped if you have plenty of saliva to wash away the acids. As the pH levels begin to normalize, remineralization occurs, where the fluoride in your saliva helps to redeposit the calcium and phosphates removed during demineralization.
A Calorie-Free Drink
Water has no calories, so it’s excellent if you are watching your weight. While you can purchase bottled water, any fluoride may have been removed, and tap water is just fine. The public drinking water supply is tightly regulated and continually monitored so you can be sure it is safe to drink.
Xerostomia
Some people cannot produce enough saliva and have a condition called xerostomia or dry mouth. It is often a side-effect of prescription and over-the-counter medicines or as a result of certain medical treatments. If you do have a dry mouth, our dentist in Whitby can help you. When you come to see us here at Margolian Dentistry, we can assess your dental health and devise a suitable preventive treatment plan. When your mouth is drier, it can increase the risk of developing dental problems, including tooth decay and gum disease. We may recommend you visit us more frequently for checkups and especially for dental cleanings. Regularly removing bacteria from your teeth in the form of calculus or tartar helps you maintain a healthy and fresh mouth.
Also, there are quite a few things you can do to compensate for not having enough saliva. For example, we can prescribe a saliva substitute in Ajax, or you can purchase this over-the-counter. Sipping frequently on water or sucking on ice chips can also be helpful. Some people find it useful to chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free candies to help stimulate saliva production.
