Did You Know That Drinking Water Helps Your Oral Health?

One of the most well-known and under-followed health tips is that we should be consuming 6-8, 8 oz. glasses of water daily, or 48-64 oz. That sounds like a lot, but to put it into perspective, we compared the sizes of drinks purchased at Fast Food restaurants, all of them near Dr. Rogers’ Spanish Fork dental practice.

• McDonald’s
  • Small – 16 oz.
  • Medium – 21 oz.
  • Large – 30 oz.
• Wendy’s
  • Kids – 12 oz.
  • Value – 16 oz.
  • Small – 20 oz.
  • Medium – 30 oz.
  • Large – 40 oz.
• KFC
  • Small – 16 oz.
  • Medium – 20 oz.
  • Large – 30 oz.
  • Mega Jug – 64 oz.

Most of the other fast food chains have similar sizes to these above. Looking at it, you can easily see how much you are drinking if you consume these beverages and see how you can easily consume your minimum daily recommended water intake by substituting water for any of these drinks.

Healthier teeth and gums

When you drink water, you are washing away bits of food that can be trapped in your teeth and gums after you eat. Water also washes away bacteria that can lead to tooth decay, gun disease, and the dreaded halitosis (bad breath). Regularly drinking your daily recommended 48-64 oz. of water helps your mouth produce saliva, your body’s natural defense mechanism against tooth decay.

Helps with dry mouth

For cases of mild dry mouth, increasing your water intake through the day is one of the best ways for your mouth to feel better. However, Dr. Rogers, your trusted Spanish Fork dentist, counsels his patients to share with him if your mouth is excessively dry. While rare, there are a few serious health conditions which can cause extreme dry mouth. Another co-occurring symptom of dry eyes can also signal health challenges.

Bonus tip

Gargling daily with hot (not scalding) salt water can help your teeth and gums greatly, as the salinity is a natural killer of bacteria.