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Water is one of man’s basic needs. While it may generally be beneficial to keep your body in good condition, there are types of water that can pose threats to your overall wellness, including your oral health. Do you know if the water you’re drinking helps to improve your teeth?
Here are the different types of drinking water and their impact on your oral condition.
6 Types of Drinking Water and Their Effects on Teeth
1. Standard Tap Water
You might be one of the many people who refrain from drinking tap water due to its possible contamination or negative health effects. However, one thing you should know is that tap water has adequate fluoride components. Note that fluoride may not be able to cure pre-existing tooth decay but it can help strengthen your teeth. It also protects your teeth from cavity formations. In fact, drinking fluoridated water is proven to reduce cavities by 25%.
Aside from fluoride, standard tap water may also contain essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
However, you also need to be extra careful and confirm from the locals or authorities if tap water is indeed safe to drink. Unlike in the United States where tap water undergoes standard fluoridation, some areas or countries might have contaminated tap water systems.
In the Philippines, this subject is still in debate for there are some sources claiming tap water is safe and others that believe otherwise. Either way, you’ll never go wrong with getting the water tested.
Note: Watch out for water pipe leaks as well because these may pollute the tap water.
2. Filtered Tap Water
Some people prefer to have their tap water filtered through a system attached directly to the tap source or filtered water pitchers. There are also others who simply dislike the taste of chlorine in standard tap water, hence, the addition of filters. While this may be a good means to ensure safety from contaminants, the filtration process may remove the fluoride and other minerals from the water.
However, it also heavily relies on whether or not you’re using the right filter. There are filtration systems that allow the fluoride to pass through or add it back towards the end of the filtering process.
3. Bottled Water
You might be fond of drinking bottled water as it is considered clean and undeniably far better for your teeth than sugary drinks and sodas. However, bottled water may not be the best choice for dental health improvements. Unlike standard tap water, most bottled water lacks sufficient fluoride, which is an important element for your oral health.
Moreover, plastic bottles become prone to bacteria as soon as you unseal them. If not stored properly, harmful toxins from plastic water bottles may also seep into the water.
If you’re consuming bottled water on a daily basis, you might consider adding fluoride supplements to your diet.
4. Distilled Water
Since it is considered as one of the purest water, distilled or reverse osmosis water might not contain all chemicals, vitamins, and minerals. While this may be healthy for your body, it might not be the best recommendation for your oral health.
5. Water Well
Some residences run on well water and while it may carry high content of minerals, the amount of fluoride present in the water is in question. An insufficient amount of fluoride can cause cavities and too much of it can lead to teeth staining as well. One of the safest remedies is to get the water tested to make sure that the minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and sodium) are all balanced.
6. Citrus or Lemon Water
Lemon water can undeniably bring positive effects on your overall health. With its refreshing and cleansing properties, many people might enjoy the idea of sipping it through all day.
However, you might miss the fact that citrus is very acidic. Adding it to the water might do more harm than good to your oral health. Note that the pH level of juice may range from 2.26, which is below the ideal 5.5 level. This extremely low level can lead to tooth enamel erosion.
But that doesn’t mean that you should completely ditch your daily lemon water plan. You can still minimize its damaging effects by drinking it all at once during specific times of the day (early morning or before sleeping). It is also recommended to drink lemon water lukewarm or slightly cold so as to slow down chemical reactions that will erode the enamel. The use of straws can also help prevent the acid from leaching directly into your teeth.
Tip: Rinse your mouth with water immediately after drinking lemon water and refrain from brushing your teeth for the next 30 minutes. Acidic beverages can temporarily soften your enamel and brushing your teeth right after may do more damage.
Aside from maintaining your body condition, one of the things you should watch out for is your oral wellness. Keeping your teeth in good health requires knowing what types of water are safe and beneficial to consume. Generally, water that contains a balanced amount of fluoride is recommended. And since you’re on your way to achieving healthy teeth, you might also consider keeping them bright all the time.
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