Stay Hydrated with Water Instead of Sugary Drinks

If you read our last blog post, then you know how concerned we are about our Frisco patients staying hydrated during the rest of this hot summer. But today’s we’d like turn our attention away from sugary drinks towards the topic of water.

Water is the best drink you can consume, no matter what the temperature is outside. Here are some of the biggest benefits of drinking water:

•  Drinking water helps decrease the body’s acidity levels. As a result, the body produces fewer free radicals and inflammation is reduced.
•  Though not a substitute for brushing and flossing, drinking water after meals helps teeth stay clean by washing away debris and leftover food.
• Water that’s enriched with fluoride can strengthen teeth by attracting important minerals.
• Consuming plenty of water improves the body’s overall function by supporting kidney health, keeping the body hydrated, and helping to maintain a stable weight.

Knowing about the benefits of drinking water puts the whole issue of hydration in perspective. As tasty as fruit juices, soft drinks, sweetened teas, and sports drinks might be, do the pros of regular consumption outweigh the cons? Is it wise to drink beverages that have a negative impact on health when a pure, beneficial drink like water is so easily within reach for most of us?

Do you still have questions about how drinking water can benefit your smile and your overall health? Dr. Jill Wade at Stonebriar Smile Design would love to answer your questions. Call our office today. We serve patients from Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Dallas, and The Colony.

How Are You Staying Hydrated This Summer?

Summer may be coming to an end, but it won’t officially be over until September 21. That means that hot temperatures will be with us for at least another month. It also means that staying hydrated will still be a major concern.

But how are you choosing to stay hydrated? Is it by drinking plenty of water throughout the day, or is it with a can of soda or a glass of fruit juice?

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a cold, sugar-filled drink from time to time, but relying on them for hydration comes with problems, both for your overall wellbeing and your smile.

The Dangers That Sugary Drinks Pose for Your Smile and Your Overall Health

One of the most obvious problems with sodas is that they often contain caffeine, a diuretic. Because diuretics decrease the amount of water in the body, consuming too many caffeinated drinks during the hot summer months can lead to dehydration.

What’s more, drinks loaded with sugar are also loaded with calories. Soft drinks in particular have been linked to rises in obesity in both children and adults, though fruit juices, sweetened teas, and sports drinks are also to blame.

But overall wellbeing is just one area we’d like to address. The other is in the arena of oral health.

The danger of sugary drinks is that sugar encourages the growth of bacteria, which in turn causes decay, or what you might know better as cavities. What’s more, the acid from sugary drinks can contribute to decay by wearing away the protective enamel that covers teeth. Both of these combine to leave teeth more vulnerable to serious oral health problems.

Do you have questions about sugary drinks and your overall/oral health? Call Stonebriar Smile Design with your questions. Dr. Jill Wade and the friendly team at her Frisco office are happy to answer any questions you might have about sugary drinks and staying hydrated.