How Drinking Water Can Improve Your Oral Health

Drinking water and staying hydrated are important parts of your overall health, but proper hydration is also important for your teeth as well. Because of this, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re drinking enough water and staying hydrated, both for your body and your oral health!

Proper Hydration & Oral Health

Below are a few of the reasons why drinking enough water can improve your child’s teeth and gum health:

• Maintains oral health – If your child becomes dehydrated, his or her mouth will dry out, creating an ideal environment for bacteria. This type of bacteria is responsible for eating away the tooth enamel, creating dental cavities and tooth decay. Be aware of chronic bad breath issues for your child, as this is one of the first signs of dehydration.
• Stimulates production of saliva – Water helps to stimulate the production of saliva, which is important to maintaining your child’s oral health. This is because saliva neutralizes the acids that can create problems for tooth enamel and balances the pH levels in your child’s mouth.
• Washes away bacteria – Lastly, making sure your child drinks water with meals and after eating, will help to wash away food particles, bacteria, and sugars that can cause harm to the teeth and gum tissues.

Here at Little Smiles of Delaware, we know how important water is for your child’s oral and overall health. To learn more about how to keep your child’s mouth, teeth, and gums healthy or if you need to make an appointment with Dr. Benjamin Kwok, please contact Little Smiles of Delaware here at our Delaware, Ohio pediatric dental office.