How Drinking Water Can Make Your Teeth Healthier

Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak, many doctors have claimed that taking a sip of water every 15 minutes can help prevent contracting the disease. They purport that if the virus is in your mouth, drinking water will flush it down into your stomach, where the acid will kill it before it can infect you. Did you know that water comes with other benefits besides preventing the coronavirus? Keep reading as a dentist in Fanwood lists four oral health benefits of drinking lots of water.

Strengthens Your Teeth with Fluoride

In most places, tap water is fortified with fluoride, a mineral that occurs naturally in the majority of water sources. In fact, fluoride is sometimes referred to as “nature’s cavity fighter.” Research has shown that people who drink fluoridated water have, on average, fewer cavities than people who don’t, because fluoride strengthens your tooth enamel in the battle against decay. However, be sure to drink tap water, as bottled water usually doesn’t have fluoride.

Rinse Out Leftover Food Particles

After you eat, it’s a good idea to rinse your mouth with water. Doing so washes away excess bits of food that bacteria love to eat. When they do, they produce a destructive waste product that erodes your enamel. This is what creates cavities. Not only does water rinse out these food particles, but it can freshen your breath in doing so.

Fights Dry Mouth

Fun fact: your saliva is about 99% water. When you don’t have enough saliva, it results in a condition called dry mouth, where it’s hard to swallow and chew. Because saliva is your body’s first line of defense against cavity-causing bacteria, you need to have as much of it as possible. Otherwise, you’re at a higher risk of tooth decay, since dry mouth increases your risk of cavities by neutralizing the acids that bacteria produce. One way to combat dry mouth is by sipping water frequently throughout the day.

Doesn’t Cause Cavities

Water is by far the healthiest drink available, at least in terms of your oral health. Unlike other popular drink choices like sodas, energy drinks, and fruit juices, water contains no sugar or calories. Sugary beverages literally bathe your pearly whites in sugar, creating a feast for oral bacteria and contributing to dental problems like cavities and gum disease. Water has the exact opposite effect since it boosts your oral health.

As you can see, drinking water can support dental health in Fanwood. Not only that, but it improves your overall health as well. And it may even prevent the spread of the coronavirus!

About the Practice

At Scotch Plains Fanwood Dental Care, the oral health of our patients is our top priority. We won’t rush you through your appointments. We take the time to get to know our patients on a personal level and come up with a personalized treatment plan to meet all your dental health needs. For more oral health tips, visit our website.