How Adopting A Solid Water Drinking Routine Can Help Preserve That Beautiful Smile 
Drink more water! You hear it all the time – from doctors, from your body and even from Internet memes. But there’s a good reason for this near-constant plea; water plays a critical role in just about every facet of our lives, including our smiles.
To help motivate you, we’re here to look deeper at the correlation between dehydration and oral health, while also presenting some pretty easy methods of establishing an excellent daily water drinking routine.
Avoid Creating A Breeding Ground for Disease & Decay
When you are dehydrated and your saliva is depleted, you lose one of your greatest weapons against many oral health risks. Saliva acts as a cleaning agent that keeps your breath fresh against Halitosis, whitens your teeth, prevents cavities and provides the minerals necessary (calcium, fluoride, phosphate, etc.) to prevent gum disease and a list of other dental problems. It even plays a role in protecting your teeth by strengthening enamel!
Swollen Gums from Dehydration
You’ve heard of dry mouth, but what about sore mouth? Swollen gums and the sensation of cuts throughout your mouth can be a sign of pretty deep dehydration. If it goes unrecognized or untreated, it may result in tooth pain and receding gums.
Know The Additional Signs & Symptoms of Being Dehydrated:
- Cracked skin and lips
- Less frequent urination from what you’re used to
- Darker urine
- Deep thirst
- Dizziness and confusion
- Fluttering heartbeat
Building A Good Strategy For Yourself
We are all different – but we’re all also likely not getting enough water! Here are some tricks and strategies to help ensure you’re getting what you need to not only help your dental health but your overall health, as well.
- Drink 16 ounces of water right when you wake up – we lose a lot in your sleep and this is a great way to kickstart your day
- Keep a reusable water bottle – in fact, a lot of the kids these days are keeping “emotional support” water bottles nearby to help keep them accountable
- Get a water filter – nothing stops someone from drinking their daily 8 faster than bad-tasting fluids
- Drink one glass of water before every meal – you will feel fuller faster, which can also help avoid binge eating
- Get some fun flavorings – if you’re struggling to build a solid routine, reach for those squeezable flavor bottles to help push you along
- Just as you started your day, end it with 8 ounces – try not to go overboard so you aren’t waking up before your alarm goes off
Stay Hydrated, Stay Healthy!
As Columbus, Ohio Family Dentists, we believe in addressing your dental health and teeth goals from every angle – and that could start with setting you up with a solid water drinking routine! Have additional questions about the relationship between dehydration and your oral health? We invite you to get in touch with us at South High Dental today!
