Our Elmhurst Dentists Talks About Why Hydration Is So Key To Oral Health

Written by Dr. Scharfenberg on Aug 30, 2022

Our Elmhurst dentists are committed to educating and empowering our patients so that they are able to make healthy decisions for their smiles. Today, we’re going to be talking about one of the best lifestyle decisions you can make to maintain dental health: committing to staying hydrated. Keep reading to learn more…

H2O for Hydration

Our dental team encourages you to stay well-hydrated, so that your body produces enough saliva to keep your mouth healthy. Did you know that saliva helps to refresh your smile by…

  • Supporting enamel re-mineralization
  • Diluting harmful acids
  • Flushing away dental debris and plaque

In short, there’s a reason that patients who suffer with dry mouth develop so many cavities and oral infections; they’re missing out on all of the benefits of saliva!

While you can technically hydrate with all kinds of beverages, there are a few reasons we encourage patients to reach for water, specifically…

  • Water doesn’t contain bacteria-fueling sugar
  • Water isn’t acidic
  • The public water supply in the United States in enriched with fluoride, so it helps to re-mineralize enamel
  • Water doesn’t stain dental enamel

So, while you may enjoy sugary and acidic beverages in moderation, the more water you drink, the better.

Tips & Strategies

If you are ready to increase your daily water intake, there are a number of simple things that you can do. Try carrying a water bottle with you, so that you aren’t dependent on water fountains to get the water you need. Some people like to alarms or reminders so that they are prompted to drink water throughout the day. You can start by trying to swap just one juice or soft drink a day with water—see how it feels!

Our Elmhurst dentists are here to help you develop smile-boosting habits that will last a lifetime. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to learn more or if you want to schedule a personal consultation. We look forward to speaking with you!