Staying well hydrated can be tough. While recommendations vary & your weight matters, generally between 2 to 3 liters is enough. Without enough water, one of the many things to suffer is our oral health.
Dehydration & Dental Decline
It probably comes as no surprise that your teeth prefer a wet environment. When there isn’t enough water in your body, your saliva production goes down, which throws this state off. Having a dry mouth does a few things, none of them good.
Dry mouth makes your gums & teeth more sensitive. This kind of exposure to air can increase the rate of tooth decay & therefore make cavities more likely. This happens because without saliva, pH levels can become unhealthy & more acidic.
You also aren’t getting enough minerals to your teeth. One of the ways calcium & fluoride are transported to your teeth is via saliva. This makes it more difficult for remineralization & the fortification properties of these minerals to occur.
In addition to this, not drinking enough water makes it so fewer food particles are washed from surfaces on and around teeth, causing a higher rate of plaque buildup.
Easy Fix
Thankfully, all this can be avoided just by drinking enough water. One of the reasons many people now struggle with something that sounds so simple is the amount of unhealthy alternatives available.
Avoid drinking things with caffeine or sugar in them. Caffeine will actually dehydrate you & sugar can cause your mouth to feel dry in addition to contributing to plaque rather than washing it away.
But all those drinks taste so good, you say? You can try to add flavor to your water with a little lime or lemon. There is also a wide selection of flavored water mixes that are sugar- & caffeine-free. Some of these may contain dyes which may contribute to discoloration, however.
There are also drinks like sports “ade” type drinks which can deliver a high level of electrolytes which can further help hydrate. Just be sure to check the label for any sugars. One method some athletes use to incorporate these drinks into their active life is to mix one part water with one part sports drink.
Alcohol isn’t to be considered when measuring your water intake, as it also actively dehydrates you.
Your Dentist Can Help
If you’ve suffered from chronic dehydration & you feel it has negatively affected your oral health, your dentist can help. Schedule an appointment with them to create a custom oral health plan to get your smile to its best.