Healthy Teeth

The Importance of Hydration for Oral Health

When it comes to taking care of our oral health, most of us have the basics covered. We have to brush twice a day, floss once a day, avoid snacking between meals and make sure we visit the dentist for regular checkups. Once these become routine, it really doesn’t feel like very much work.

There is one aspect of oral health care that many people forget about, and that is the role of hydration. Making sure you drink enough water every day is a simple way to help support your oral health. In this guide, we’re going to explore the role of hydration and oral health in more detail.

How does hydration impact oral health

How does hydration impact oral health?

Your hydration levels are linked to your oral health more than you might imagine. Maintaining good hydration levels can help to protect your oral health in the following ways:

  • Hydration helps to support saliva production, which is essential for neutralising the acids in your mouth after a meal. Saliva also helps to wash away food debris in your mouth, which could damage your tooth enamel if left to build up.

  • Drinking a glass of water after a meal will neutralise the acid in your mouth and can also help to prevent staining from your food choices.

  • Drinking water can help to address dry mouth, which is a condition that allows bacteria to thrive.

  • The mineral content in water also helps to support your oral health. Water contains fluoride which is essential for enamel remineralisation. Simply increasing your water intake is a simple and highly effective way to protect your teeth.

  • Drinking water and maintaining hydration levels can also help you to feel more full, which can help you to skip the snacks. Snacking is often to blame for dental decay, as you might reach for very sweet or starchy snacks when you are thirsty, as you can mistake thirst for hunger.

Why drink water instead of alternatives

Why drink water instead of alternatives?

A common mistake that many people make is to assume that all liquids will contribute to hydration levels. However, they could reap more benefits by switching out other liquids for a simple glass of water. There are a number of reasons that drinking anything other than water can have a negative impact on your oral health.

  • Fizzy drinks can damage your enamel and cause more harm than good. They can also cause dental staining which could impact your confidence.

  • Tea and coffee can also cause dental staining, which is why you shouldn’t count your tea and coffee intake as part of your daily hydration targets.

  • Caffeinated drinks can also make you feel more dehydrated due to the diuretic effect, which could aggravate conditions such as dry mouth.

  • Alcohol will also contribute to dehydration, so this also should not be counted towards your hydration targets.

How much water should you drink every day

How much water should you drink every day?

If you rarely drink plain water, you might not realise just how thirsty you really are. While some people claim you need to be drinking 2 litres of water every single day, this might not be the best way for you to increase your hydration levels.

Start by switching out some of your usual beverages for a glass of water. For example, if you would normally have a fizzy drink with lunch and dinner, try trading this for a glass of water.

Pay close attention to how you feel throughout the day. Does your mouth feel dry? Do you have a headache? Do you frequently feel hungry? These are all signs that you could be dehydrated.

Try having a glass of water when you feel hungry and see if your hunger subsides. Over time, you will find that you naturally reach for water rather than alternatives, as this will make you feel better.

The impact of medication on hydration

Certain medications can leave you feeling dehydrated, or you might find that your lifestyle choices have the same impact. For example, smokers are more likely to suffer from dry mouth due to the nicotine content. Nicotine is known to slow saliva flow, which can leave you feeling parched.

If you are taking medication that impacts hydration levels, speak to your doctor about how to balance this. Another example would be very active people, and those taking creatine supplements. You will need to increase your water intake when taking creatine supplements as this collects water to store in your muscles. If you do not have sufficient levels of hydration, your body will take it from other parts of your body, leading to dehydration.

How can your dentist help

How can your dentist help?

If you are worried about dehydration and the impact on your oral health, it’s time for a trip to the dentist. Perhaps you have noticed your mouth is very dry and this is leading to inflamed gums or bad breath. Your dentist can tell you the extent of this damage, so you can make an informed decision about what to do next.

If your dry mouth is linked to a medical condition, we can advise you on the next steps to help address this. But if your dry mouth is simply a case of dehydration, we can encourage you to increase your water intake.

Increasing water intake can have widespread benefits for your oral health and your wider health. It can help you to reduce your food intake and might help you to reduce snacking between meals. This can be beneficial if you are training to maintain or lose weight.

Final thoughts on hydration and oral health

Something as simple as switching your fizzy drinks for a glass of water can have huge benefits for your oral health. You don’t have to cut them out forever, but making a conscious effort to reduce your intake of sugary drinks will have a positive impact on your oral health.

If you’re worried about dry mouth or tooth decay, book an appointment with our dental team to arrange a routine checkup. This is the ideal opportunity to ask questions about how to best protect your teeth.

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