BLOG #46 HOW DOES DRINKING WATER AFFECT YOUR ORAL HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
BLOG #47 HOW DOES DRINKING WATER AFFECT YOUR ORAL HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
Dr. Spiker Davis D.D.S. 713-781-2800 Dr. Matt Guerre D.D.S. 713-781-2800
In collaboration with Dr. John Seger M.D. Cardiologist 713-791-9444
BLOG | ABOUT | MISSION | PALEO | RANT | PRODUCT
Lately there have been many articles and studies about how to live longer. Many of these studies have discussed the importance of the water we drink. I have heard for years that we are supposed to drink 8 glasses per day etc. and I never do it because it makes me have to get up in the night and I hate that. So, I have been on a mission lately to study how much water should the average person drink and how does this affect our health.
Water is a part of every cell in our body and without it you can only live about 7 days. So, if it is that crucial how much do I really need to consume per day? Of course, as you can imagine, it varies. Do you work outside in the heat? Do you have a fever? Are you exercising? Are you nursing? Do you have diarrhea? Are you vomiting? You get the picture-different requirements for different lifestyles and people.
Proper hydration can act as a barrier to bacterial infection. It can also decrease nasal irritation from coughing and breathing. Water that is unfiltered can have a lot of minerals in it that are good for overall health and making sure that your teeth remain healthy. In fact, just drinking water can wash down food particles and dilute sugar that is in your mouth. Dehydration on the other hand can cause memory loss, increase blood pressure, put you at risk of a heart attack and cause dry mouth. How many times have you heard of someone being in the hospital because they were dehydrated?
Your daily requirements of water vary greatly and depend on weight, age, gender, and all of the above. During a normal day, the average person loses about 64 ounces of water just sweating, breathing and other bodily functions. In the night, we lose about the same amount from breathing and perspiring. In Texas, the dry air and the air conditioner can cause more loss of water. So, when you hear the story that you need to drink 8 glasses (8 ounces each glass equals 64 ounces per day) that is where the number comes from. In other words, you need to replace what you are losing every day and every night. So, drinking 8 glasses of water is a rule of thumb. If you are working outside, exercising or have dry mouth etc. then you probably should drink more than 8 glasses per day.
From a dentist standpoint there are at least 4 reasons you should drink 8 glasses of water per day!
- Drinking water will help to wash away food debris and residue. After drinking a cola there is a lot of sugar left in your mouth coating the teeth and this helps lead to decay! Water also helps to dilute the acids caused by bacteria that are eating away at your teeth and causing gum disease. Be sure to drink water immediately after eating and drinking anything sweet
- Water can contain lots of minerals and even fluoride so drinking 8 glasses per day will strengthen the enamel and help to prevent decay. Without minerals the teeth can become brittle and very susceptible to decay.
- Water helps correct dry mouth-a condition that makes it hard to swallow and chew because there is a lack of saliva. Saliva is 99% water, and it is your first line of defense against decay and gum disease. By drinking enough water, you help to prevent dry mouth and ensure saliva is produced at an optimal rate.
- OMG-Water has no calories and helps to prevent gaining weight. I suggest that every time you are hungry and want a snack, just drink a glass of water.
SUMMARY- Everyone and every cell in your body needs water just to live. The rule of thumb is that everyone should drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. Some of us need to drink more. Many times, when you go to the dentist or your physician for checkup they can tell from dry mouth or blood tests that you probably should be drinking more water, so go get a checkup.
“THE MOUTH IS THE WINDOW TO YOUR HEALTH”. BRUSH AND FLOSS TWICE DAILY, AVOID SUGAR FOR 2020 AND SEE YOUR DENTIST AND PHYSICIAN ON A REGULAR BASIS.
Spiker Davis D.D.S. spiker@thepaleodentist.com John Seger M.D. Matt Guerre D.D.S.
PLEASE SIGN UP BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE www.thepaleodentist.com
RANT AND RAVE– I get SO MAD when I see people open things with their teeth! It is a weekly occurrence in our office that someone comes in with a broken tooth because they used their teeth to open something such as a plastic wrapper or the cap on fingernail polish etc. A cracked tooth can lead to extractions and implants or bridges and those are awfully expensive. Unless you want to become the annuity plan for your favorite dentist only use your teeth for eating and nothing else!
STAY SAFE. WORRY ABOUT NOTHING AND PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING..