Water - Your Secret Weapon Against Gum Disease
Water is truly a superliquid.
Not only does it play a vital part in keeping us alert, hydrated, and healthy-looking, but it can also be a huge weapon against the threat of gum disease. So, if you’re not drinking water regularly between meals, here’s why you should be.
How does water help to prevent gum disease?
Sufficient water is needed to encourage a healthy and continuous flow of saliva. Saliva is essential because:
It helps to neutralise the acids in your mouth (created after you eat carbohydrates and sugars).
It flushes away rogue food particles stuck in-between your teeth.
It prevents bacteria from settling on your tongue and causing bad breath.
We all become dehydrated at one stage or another, whether it be through exercising, forgetting to drink enough water, or due to illnesses and conditions that dry out the mouth. During these moments, saliva stimulation can become hindered, giving bacteria more of an opportunity to thrive and settle.
By sipping on water, you are:
Reintroducing saliva stimulation.
Giving your mouth a helping hand to wash away bacteria and trapped food particles.
Neutralising the acids in your mouth.
All of this adds up to better protection against gum disease – the number 1 reason for tooth loss in adults.
How much water do I need to drink?
The two litres per day rule isn’t actually applicable – this is a myth that emerged several years ago, seemingly with no real clinical foundation. In fact, the University of Aberdeen carried out a study demonstrating compelling evidence against the 2 litre-a day one-size-fits-all argument.
The amount of water you drink depends on your:
Height
The amount of exercise you do
The climate you live in
Your sex
It’s also important to state that you should be drinking water at regular intervals throughout the day, not necking 1.5-2.5 litres in one go.
This is important when it comes to gum disease, as bacteria are constantly collecting along your gum line and on your tongue during the day. It takes just 30 minutes for acids to start forming in your mouth, so sipping water after eating is a big must.
How do I start drinking more water?
It is ever so slightly frustrating that one of the fundamentals keeping us alive has to taste…. Well…bland! In our experience as dentists, it’s the taste barrier that prevents patients from hydrating purely with water.
Whilst it’s OK to have the occasional flavoured water, tea or coffee, ultimately water is king for rinsing away food particles, as it won’t cause erosion or dental decay.
Try to increase your water intake with the following tips:
Choose a water bottle that you’ll enjoy drinking out of.
Be aware of your body telling you it’s time to have a drink (yellow urine and a dry mouth are both symptoms of dehydration).
Set an alarm on your watch or phone reminding you to hydrate.
Drink a glass of water before and after you have a meal.
Set a schedule for water consumption.
Last but not least – there’s one occasion when you shouldn’t reach for the water…
OK, so we’ve just spent this whole blog telling you to drink more water. But. There is one occasion when drinking water will hinder your oral health efforts – directly before and after brushing.
Make sure you:
Do not wet your brush before brushing. This weakens your toothpaste’s cleaning capabilities.
Don’t drink water directly after brushing (or if you do, use a straw). This is so your do not wash away the fluoride that battles decay and erosion on your mouth.
Ask a dentist about your gum health online (for free)
The easiest way to access gum health advice is to jump on an online consultation with one of the dentists at Nova Smile.
