Finding Ways to Include Water in Your Diet

In our previous post, we discussed the fact that water is the best and only beverage to keep by your side throughout the day. We all agree that you need something to sip on when you are thirsty. Staying hydrated is a very important aspect of oral health, but your current beverage of choice might not be the best thing for you. Yet, most people don’t like the taste of water and struggle to consume as much as they should. There are solutions to this which will make water more appetizing while still allowing you to reap all of the benefits of water.

The Other Stuff
If you aren’t drinking water throughout the day, you are probably drinking coffee or soda. Coffee is better for you than soda, by far, but even coffee has properties that are harmful to your smile. Coffee can stain your enamel, cause bad breath, and if you add sugar, coffee can cause decay. Juice and sports drinks seem like a better alternative, but both are loaded with sugar that will be harmful to your smile.

Making Water Awesome
If a glass filled with ice water isn’t enough for you, you might try sprucing up your water. We love to add sliced fruit or fresh herbs to our water to give it a subtle flavor. Kids, especially, perk up when they see a pitcher full of their favorite fruit floating in ice water! Kids are also drawn to water if it’s in a fun cup, has fun ice cubes, or comes with a silly straw. Find whatever works for your family, and enjoy the benefits of healthier teeth.

Once you figure out what will work for your family, we recommend making the switch slowly. Begin by replacing sugary beverages for one meal, and slowly continue until water is the drink of choice all day, every day, with rare exceptions. Contact us today to set up an appointment for a cleaning and exam. We would love to see how your water revolution is going!