Improving whole-body wellness and wellbeing can make a big impact on the way your smile looks and feels over time. This article, for example, is all about the connection between hydration and oral health. Keep reading to learn more from our St Louis dentists…
H2O for Hydration
If you want to achieve, and then maintain, a healthy smile, it is crucial that you stay hydrated throughout the day. When you are properly hydrated, your body is able to produce enough saliva to support optimal oral health.
Patients who do not produce enough saliva suffer from dry mouth. Unfortunately, chronic dry mouth negatively affects your smile in a number of ways. Dry mouth sufferers develop cavities as well as periodontal disease at increased rates, and they also often deal with bad breath.
Theoretically, you could hydrate with any beverage. There are a few reasons, however, to reach for water over alternatives like soft drinks, juices, and coffee/tea.
- Water is not acidic, so it doesn’t soften dental enamel
- Water does not contain additional sugars
- Water does not expose your smile to discoloring substances
- Tap water contains fluoride, a mineral that actually helps to strengthen enamel
As you can see, water delivers full hydration benefits without any unnecessary downsides.
Tips & Strategies
If you have made it a goal to drink my water during the day, here are a few useful strategies:
- Carry water with you, so you aren’t dependent on water fountains
- Use a large water bottle that allows you to track how much you’ve consumed
- Set reminders or alarms on your phone for water breaks
- Track your water consumption on your calendar or planner
- Use breaks in a workday as set times to drink water
- Start by swapping one sugary drink for water a day
You may be surprised at just how much better your smile looks and feels once you increase your water consumption. If you have any questions about hydration and oral health, you can always call our Saint Louis dentists to get more information and to schedule a consultation!