With a new year underway, many people have made goals to “get healthy.” While that is a good goal, without a clear plan to implement, that “get healthy” goal will be easy to forget. Setting a clear path for achieving a goal is essential in making it happen, and understanding why you set a specific goal in the first place can help you stay on track.
Drinking more water is probably the single best choice you can implement to get healthy. Water benefits your entire body, including your smile. It is important to understand that your mouth’s health is a huge indicator of the health of your entire body. Many serious health conditions can be linked directly to poor oral health: diabetes, heart disease, pre-term labor, low birth weight, miscarriage, and more. Drinking more water can help protect your smile from oral health issues that damage more than just your teeth.
Benefits from Drinking Water for Your Smile
- Water is a natural cavity-fighter. Decades ago, tooth decay was a huge problem in the United States. People did not have access to quality dental care, so the government implemented fluorinated water systems in cities and suburbs. Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps strengthen tooth enamel and ward off decay. So drinking more water (even filtered water) can help to fight cavities naturally.
- Water is a natural mouthwash. By simply drinking water, you are easily cleaning your teeth. Water washes away food particles and residue after eating and drinking other beverages. There are millions of oral bacteria inside your mouth that produce acids and cause damage to the teeth. Water helps dilute these acids so they do not adhere to the teeth and eat away at the tooth enamel. Also, because water rinses away acid-producing bacteria, food particles, and residue, it naturally freshens your breath.
- Water keeps your mouth moist. A dry mouth is not only bothersome, but it is also dangerous. Saliva production is probably the most underrated component of oral health, yet it is vital. Saliva is the body’s natural defense against tooth decay because it is continually washing away damaging bacteria from the teeth. A dry mouth provides the perfect atmosphere for bacteria to adhere to the teeth in plaque and tartar buildup. Drinking plenty of water keeps your mouth and your body hydrated so that it functions properly.
At Smile Structure Dentistry & Braces, we encourage you to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day!
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