We are taught from an early age that drinking water is crucial to staying healthy. Low hydration levels can cause medical concerns for your entire body, including your mouth.
Dentists, along with other medical professionals, recommend drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water every day to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Dr. Clement Monroe, Dr. Kamron Monroe, and their dentist team in Pinehurst, NC describe how drinking plenty of water can keep your smile looking and feeling its best.
Water can taste refreshing when you are thirsty, and drinking it can invigorate your mouth by enhancing your oral hygiene too. A proper oral hygiene routine consists of brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily.
However, we consume substances throughout the day in between oral hygiene regimens. Drinking water rinses your mouth to eliminate lingering food particles that can encourage bacteria to spread across your teeth and gums. This reduces symptoms like bad breath and lowers your chance of developing dental issues like tooth decay.
Dehydration decreases saliva production in your mouth, which can leave you with dry mouth. This sensation can feel uncomfortable, and it gives bacteria freedom to spread through your mouth.
This increases your risk of oral infections, including gum disease. Patients with gum disease may notice swollen, red, sore, or bleeding gums.
Advanced stages of this condition can cause major damage to your teeth, including tooth loss. You should drink at least the recommended amount of water each day to decrease the likelihood of these issues.
Compared to soft drinks, water is a much healthier beverage choice because it has no calories and may contain fluoride, which strengthens tooth enamel. It is also colorless, so there is no chance of tooth discoloration, unlike dark-colored beverages which have tannins that may absorb into the enamel and leave stains behind.
Water is also sugar-free, which is beneficial for your teeth because added sugar can be detrimental to your oral health. Sugar reacts with bacteria in your mouth to become acidic, which eats away at tooth enamel.
Drs. Monroe & Monroe Implant & General Dentistry treat gum disease and much more for patients of all ages. Our practice has an expert dentist team that specializes in cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry in Pinehurst, NC. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 910.295.4242.
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