Title: Why Water Is Better – Part 2

Meta: Last time we talked about what drinks to avoid. Now, learn about how to add more water into your daily routine.

You may have caught our last blog, Why Water Is Better – Part 1, where we discussed the types of beverages that can cause your oral health to decline. We know that getting enough water is important, because during these hot Plano, TX summers, it’s easy to get dehydrated. Let’s review the types of drinks you want to stay away from:

Sodas – As the worst of the worst, soft drinks are packed with sugar and acid – the perfect team to erode enamel, breed bacteria, and destroy your oral health.

Coffee – A vessel for lots and LOTS of sugar. Also an enemy of a bright, white smiles due to its tendency to stain.

Juices – Over-processed, over-sugared fruit juice is a prime suspect if you’re investigating sensitive teeth.

Alcohol – Loaded with sugar. Watch those cocktails, especially.

Sweetened Tea – With very little or no nutritional value and gobs of sugar, drinks like sweet tea, lemonade, and other sweetened flavored drinks are bad for your oral health and your body.

Now that we know which beverages are harmful to your teeth and gums, let’s talk about ways you can substitute more water into your daily routine instead of sugary, acidic soft drinks and juices.

How To Incorporate More Water Into Your Diet

Okay, so I think you can agree that drinking water is better than damaging your teeth with coffee, sodas, and juices. But how do you make sure more water – and less sugar – makes its way into your diet?

I need the caffeine. Are you a person who cannot function in the morning without a cup of coffee to get you moving? It’s okay – there’s no shame in it. Sometimes we all need a little boost. But habitual consumption of sugar-laden coffee is bad for your oral health. Instead, try switching to unsweetened green tea. It still has a caffeine kick, but isn’t packed with sugar and will not stain your teeth as badly as black tea.

But I still want the sweet taste of juices and sodas. Are you simply addicted to the flavors and sweetness of soda and juice? Try adding fruit to your water. Keeping a pitcher of water flavored with slices of fresh fruit in your refrigerator is a great way to avoid sugary drinks. Frozen fruit works well here too – it even doubles as ice.

And, if you just have to have the bubbly goodness of a carbonated drink, use seltzer water! You can have a bubbly, fruity drink without all of the sugar and acid of a soft drink. They even make home carbonation machines if you want to carbonate your own!

I just don’t like water. That’s a tough one. Have you tried bottled water? Do you like the taste of the water at a friend’s house? Ask them what sort of filtration system they use. It may just be that the water in your town has a funny taste – you may want to invest in a filtering set-up of your own. A filter may improve the quality and taste of your tap water. I think you’ll agree that your health is worth the small investment.

Other ideas such as drinking a glass of water before each meal and keeping a glass of water on your bedside table to drink when you wake up in the morning are also helpful. The goal is to drink less gum-damaging, teeth-eroding beverages and more water. If you need to pack a water bottle around with you 24/7 in order to get plenty of water, then do it! It’s a sure-fire way to make sure you don’t drink the bad stuff.

If you are already showing signs of gum disease, enamel erosion, or if you are in any pain, please contact us immediately. We can help to restore your oral health and help you learn about how to protect yourself against disease and decay. Call us at [phone_number] or use the form on our contact page to schedule an appointment. We want you to have the best, healthiest smile possible.