In light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, many doctors have said that sipping water every 15 minutes can help prevent infection. If the virus is in your mouth, the water will push it down into your stomach, where the acid will kill it before it can wreak havoc on your body. But did you know that water has other benefits, specifically for your oral health? Keep reading as a dentist lists all the ways in which regularly drinking water can improve the health of your teeth and gums.
Strengthens Your Teeth with Fluoride
Most tap water is fortified with fluoride, also known as “nature’s cavity fighter.” This mineral occurs naturally in most water sources. Studies have shown that people who drink fluoridated water have fewer cavities on average than those who don’t. This is because fluoride makes your tooth enamel stronger and less susceptible to decay. Make sure to drink tap water as opposed to bottled water to reap all of the benefits.
Rinses Away Excess Food Particles
Rinsing with water after eating washes away leftover bits of food from your meal or snack. Bacteria in your mouth love to feast on these particles. When they do, they produce an acidic waste product that eats away at your enamel, which is what causes cavities. Not only that, but it prevents bad breath by rinsing excess food particles out of your mouth.
Fights Dry Mouth
Did you know that your saliva is 99% water? When you don’t have enough saliva, it causes a condition called dry mouth, in which it’s difficult to chew and swallow. Saliva is actually your mouth’s first line of defense against cavity-causing bacteria. It neutralizes the acids created by the bacteria and prevents them from exacting damage. It also strengthens your teeth by washing them with calcium, phosphates, and fluoride. Dry mouth puts you at an increased risk of tooth decay. By sipping water throughout the day, you can keep cavities at bay.
Doesn’t Cause Cavities
When it comes to your oral health, water is literally the healthiest drink available. It contains no sugar or calories, unlike sugary beverages like soda, sports drinks, and fruit juices. These beverages give your pearly whites a sugar bath, which contributes to gum disease and tooth decay. Water has the opposite effect as these drinks by boosting your oral health.
As you can see, there are more benefits to drinking water than preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Drinking eight glasses a day can improve your dental and overall health by leaps and bounds.
About the Author
Dr. Parnam Mohanna is a dentist in Glenpool, OK who has been working in the dental field for more than 30 years. In that time, he has achieved both a Diplomacy and Fellowship with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, as well as a Fellowship with the Misch International Implant Institute. Although his practice is currently closed, he is still seeing emergency patients. If you think you may have a dental emergency, such as a raging toothache or a knocked-out tooth, contact Dr. Mohanna’s office at (918) 216-1000.