Your body is composed of around 60% water, and drinking plenty of water helps protect your overall health. Being well hydrated ensures all your body’s organs can work properly and that nutrients are properly distributed.
Water helps flush out toxins, ensures your muscles can work smoothly and keeps your skin in great shape. However, drinking plenty of water is also essential for a healthy mouth. Staying well-hydrated contributes to your dental health in several ways.
Why drink water? One reason is keeping Your Mouth Clean
Your mouth is host to hundreds of strains of bacteria and cleaning your teeth helps keep their numbers in check, but they soon begin to build up quickly. Drinking plenty of water helps prevent this accumulation and flushes away excess food particles.
In comparison, drinking other liquids that may be acidic or sugary enables these bacteria to thrive and contribute to enamel erosion and tooth decay. Nothing harmful is left behind when you drink water, and it helps your mouth maintain a more neutral pH. It’s a particularly good idea to drink water after a meal when your mouth is more acidic, as water will help neutralize acids more quickly.
Hydrating Your Mouth
Your oral tissues need to be kept moist and dry mouth, which is a problem called xerostomia is a problem for many people. Dry mouth is a condition where people cannot produce enough saliva, a lubricating substance that is 99% water. Often, dry mouth can be a side effect of prescription medications and other medicines, including antihistamines, antidepressants and decongestants. People who breathe through their mouth will often find their mouth is drier than is desirable.
When your mouth is drier, it creates the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive and drinking plenty of water helps your body produce more saliva. Saliva contains calcium and phosphate, both important minerals for helping to protect your teeth against decay.
Fighting Bad Breath
Often “morning breath” is caused by dry mouth because your mouth is naturally drier overnight as you produce less saliva. Drinking water throughout the day helps fight bad breath, and it’s calorie-free.
Signs That May Indicate You Are Dehydrated
When fluids used by the body to carry out normal functions are not replaced, it causes dehydration. The condition is more serious for older people and children but can affect anyone at any age. Exercising excessively or being in a hot climate can trigger dehydration, and usually, it’s easily treated by drinking water. However, more severe signs of dehydration can include dizziness and confusion, dark-coloured urine, dry eyes and feeling extremely thirsty.
Which Is the Best Water to Drink?
It’s best to stick to drinking regular (still) water rather than carbonated water that may be more acidic. If you want to drink bottled water, check the ingredients as some contain sweeteners and flavouring agents. You can also purchase various types such as alkaline water that can help neutralize acids in the mouth, promoting healthy saliva, teeth and gums.
Another option is ozone-infused water that can help promote healthy gum tissue. However, you don’t need to buy bottled water as tap water here in West Vancouver is absolutely fine and will do a great job at keeping you well-hydrated.
If you have a dry mouth, it’s worth sipping on water frequently or sucking on ice chips. We can also help people with dry mouth and discuss various ways to ensure your mouth feels moister and more comfortable when you visit us here at Bel Canto Dental on the North Shore. For example, we may suggest using over-the-counter saliva substitutes or more frequent checkups and cleanings to help you maintain good oral health more effectively. Call us today at 604-926-7621 or use our appointment request form to book an appointment today.
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