Water - the Best Dental Product of All

Image of a glass of water against a white backdrop

Drinking water - what’s that got to do with my teeth?

We all know that medical experts are constantly telling us to drink lots of water. It’s one of the mainstays of primary school health education - eight cups a day. (Or is it eight litres? Or eight bottles? We forget!) But why would that affect our dental health? Let’s find out...

Keeping your Mouth Clean

Drinking water throughout the day helps your mouth in several ways. 

  • It washes away food residue on your teeth and in your mouth, reducing the overall acidity inside your mouth

  • It helps your saliva production (which is 99% water!) which has a similar effect - rinsing the mouth out with calcium, phosphate, and fluoride to strengthen your teeth

  • It’s sugar free! So it is the best drink you can consume to ensure the minimal amount of sugar that is contacting your teeth and forming plaque on them


Sparkling/Carbonated Water

Recently people have started questioning whether carbonated water has an adverse effect on your teeth. It is true that carbonated beverages in general have a lower pH (or are more acidic) than water, which is neutral. However, the acidity of sparkling water as opposed to fruit juices or flavoured fizzy drinks is minimal. Experts suggest that sparkling water is an improvement if you are trying to cut down on these types of sugary drinks. However there is no better alternative for your teeth than pure and simple still water. 

Fluoridation

There is much debate on the fluoridation of water supplies. Where we are based in Auckland, the water is fluoridated to a low level. This is in an attempt to control the rampant tooth decay that is prevalent in youth and infants across New Zealand, many of whom do not have the resource or education to pursue the recommended teeth-cleaning routines. 

However, drinking fluoridated water is NOT A SUBSTITUTE for daily flossing and cleaning. The contact that your teeth come into with fluoride when brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste is vastly more than when you drink a glass of fluoridated water. So don’t think that swigging some water before bed is the equivalent of brushing your teeth!

Conclusion

Drinking water is a crucial factor in maintaining a healthy mouth environment. It is a superior alternative to any other beverage - including sparkling water - but it is not a stand-in for regular brushing and flossing. 

Bottom’s up!

Katie L.