If there is one substance that you can consume every day to help your smile, it is undoubtedly water. Water helps your entire body function optimally, and it improves oral health, specifically, by helping you maintain a healthy dental environment.
Our East Plano dentists are reviewing three ways that you can use water to your benefit:
Drink it
Staying hydrated is so good for both your whole-body health and your smile! Try keeping a water bottle with you throughout the day, so that you can take a swig whenever you want. Some people even set timers on their phones to help them stay on track with water breaks no matter what they are doing. When you drinking enough water, your body is able to crank out plenty of saliva, and saliva works to neutralize bacteria and strengthen enamel. Keep in mind that other beverages, like soft drinks, fruit juices, and sweetened coffees and teas do not offer all of the benefits of plain old water.
Rinse with it
One of the best, and simplest, habits that you can get into is to rinse your mouth with water after every meal, snack, and sip (of anything other than plain water). By doing this, you minimize the number of bacteria in your mouth, you clear away dental debris, and you reduce the amount of time that bacteria can stay active on your smile, feeding on sugars and refined carbohydrates. It is better to rinse right after indulging, rather than brushing, because brushing beyond the ADA’s recommendation may actually be too abrasive for your smile.
Start your day with it
As soon as you wake up, before you eat or drink anything, drink some water. When you get up in the morning, your mouth is probably drier than it during the day, because you haven’t had any water all night long. By starting your morning with water, you allow your body to jump-start saliva production before you introduce acidic and sugary substances into your mouth.
Try incorporating more water into your daily routine to boost and maintain oral health. If you want to learn more, or schedule a personal consultation, don’t hesitate to reach out to our East Plano dentists to get stated!