We learn from a young age that human beings require water to remain healthy. Adequate hydration is crucial to protecting your teeth and gums as well.
Dentists and other medical professionals recommend drinking eight eight-ounce glasses of water to stay hydrated. Dr. Sahil Goyal, a dentist located in Columbia, MD, explains the oral health advantages you will notice when you maintain good levels of hydration.
Boost Oral Hygiene
Plaque forms naturally over our teeth throughout our busy days and can erode tooth enamel and leave your smile vulnerable to dental damage. We remove plaque and protect our teeth by practicing good oral hygiene.
This includes brushing teeth twice daily and flossing once a day. However, we consume substances between brushing regimens that could contribute to plaque build-up.
Drinking a glass of water rinses lingering food particles from our mouth before they can harm our oral health. This also reduces the risk of forming unpleasant conditions like bad breath.
Fortify Tooth Enamel
The surface of your tooth, enamel, may wear down over time, exposing underlying dentin. This could leave you with painful tooth sensitivity symptoms as the dentin becomes stimulated.
Water can contain fluoride, a substance that strengthens the enamel of your teeth, making them better able to resist tooth decay or other conditions that could cause the deterioration of the enamel. Drinking water can help you prevent cavities and keep your smile looking and feeling its best.
Preserve Gum Health
Low levels of hydration will decrease your production of saliva, which can leave you with dry mouth. This environment allows bacteria to spread across your teeth easily, heightening your risk of oral infections, including gum disease.
Periodontal disease requires intervention from your dentist to get rid of and could cause severe, irreversible damage to your smile, including tooth loss, if not treated promptly. Drinking water decreases the likelihood of contracting gum disease, so you can maintain good gum health and avoid this issue. If you notice swelling, bleeding, or soreness in your gums, you should let your dentist know.
Learn More Oral Health Tips in Columbia, MD
Columbia Family Dentist offers periodontal therapy and other restorative dental treatments to patients in Columbia, MD. Dr. Goyal also specializes in general and cosmetic dentistry, including orthodontics. To schedule an appointment or consultation with our practice, contact us online or reach our office by phone at 410.670.8211.