Do you know how much water you consume daily? We’re always told how important it is to hydrate, especially when exercising or getting sick. Hydration is key to warding off the unwanted effects of dehydration, but it can also positively affect your health. Drinking enough water daily helps lubricate joints, keeps eyes moist, delivers oxygen throughout the body, and can help with the negative effects of chronic illness. But did you know hydration has many benefits for your teeth and gums?
Teeth and gums require daily brushing and flossing, as well as routine check-ups, and cleanings with your dentist. This keeps them clean and your gums healthy, preventing dental issues like cavities and dry mouth. The role of hydration in maintaining healthy teeth and gums goes beyond warding off dry mouth – keep reading to learn about hydration and oral health and how they go hand-in-hand.
Why Drink Water for Healthy Teeth and Gums?
It’s just water – how could something so simple have so many benefits? This transparent, tasteless, and odorless chemical formula is essential for everyday life. Our bodies contain a lot of water; nearly 50-70% of our body weight is water. Every organ, tissue, and cell requires water to function. In return, when we provide our bodies with the water they crave and need, they function better and we are healthier.
Drinking water helps every cell and tissue in our bodies, but our teeth and gums benefit greatly from this natural resource. Below are just some of the many roles of hydration in maintaining healthy teeth and gums:
Saliva Production
Saliva is mostly water and contains enzymes, antibodies, and proteins. This clear, watery fluid our salivary glands produce does more than keep a mouth moist. Our saliva helps with digestion, breaking down food, cleaning the mouth, supporting taste, naturally healing cuts and sores in the mouth, preventing infection, and more. Water is required to produce saliva, and not drinking enough water slows down the production, affecting your oral health and digestion.
Washes Away Bacteria & Food
Combined with saliva, water helps wash away bacteria and food in the mouth, near the gumline, and on the teeth. Every time we eat, food particles can get lodged between teeth and adhere to the surface of our teeth. Foods containing acids or sugars can weaken enamel, a layer on our teeth that can’t naturally regenerate. Therefore, brushing and flossing daily is crucial to remove foods and bacteria. Drinking enough water throughout the day helps wash away bacteria and food, removing it from the enamel and flushing out the gumline.
Freshens Breath
No one wants bad breath, but unfortunately, it’s easy to come by if you don’t drink enough water. When a mouth is dry, bacteria can cause unpleasant odors causing bad breath. Drinking enough water helps with saliva production, helping to combat bad breath.
Supports Gum Health
Healthy gums make for a healthy mouth when your mouth is hydrated. Drinking enough water supports gum health by keeping your gums hydrated and washing away bacteria that can harm them. However, failing to drink enough water dehydrates the gums, increasing inflammation and potentially causing gum disease.
Supports Healthy Enamel
Enamel is the hard outer layer of the tooth, protecting the softer tissues and nerves inside the teeth. Enamel can’t be regenerated, so it’s important to do everything you can to support healthy enamel. Drinking plenty of water results in healthy enamel by reducing plaque and bacteria, flushing out toxins, neutralizing acidity, and remineralizing enamel.
Fluoridation
Some drinking water contains fluoride which helps prevent tooth decay and strengthens the tooth enamel. Fluoride helps the enamel be more resistant to acids and foods that can cause cavities. While toothpaste, mouthwashes, and fluoride treatments are available, drinking water containing fluoride can help prevent tooth decay, keeping teeth and gums healthier.
How Much Water is Enough?
For years we were told by doctors and informed through articles and commercials that adults need at least eight cups of water daily for a healthy body. Though eight cups a day may be best for some individuals, Mayo Clinic, the nation’s largest non-profit medical group, recommends men consume 15.5 cups daily while women consume 11.5 cups.
The amount of water you should intake daily depends on age, health concerns, dental issues, climate, and activity level. If you’re very active and exercise often you should drink more to replenish hydration lost through sweat. Likewise, health conditions like diarrhea, or even nursing mothers, require more water than others. Discuss how much water is ideal for you with your doctor. Hydration and oral health go hand-in-hand and you need to ensure you’re drinking enough water.
Schedule an Appointment with Rhoades Family Dentistry Today
Rhoades Family Dentistry can help with hydration tips for teeth and gums, examining the current state of your teeth and gums, and offering advice about hydration and oral health. Dr. Hahn and Dr. Driscoll care about your oral health and go above and beyond to offer exceptional dental care and treatments for patients of all ages.
Book an appointment today by scrolling up and clicking “BOOK AN APPOINTMENT” on the top left of your screen or by calling (913) 782-8900. We look forward to serving you by providing excellent dental care and giving your family healthy smiles!
