Bottled water vs. tap water; no big deal, right? After all, water is water.
Or is it?
If you were to talk to people who make a sincere effort to drink plenty of water everyday, you would likely here a variety of opinions. Some people say bottled water is best, others prefer to drink from the tap, and still others prefer filtered or distilled water.
In this article, we’re going to answer the question “is bottled water damaging your teeth?” You may be surprised at the answer!
First things first: The benefits of water
First things first, we want you to understand that we are not saying that bottled water is “dangerous” in any way. We’re simply going to review whether or not bottled water provides you with the optimal vitamins and minerals to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Water is nature’s drink, and every animal needs water to avoid dehydration. According to this “Water in You” article from the United States Geological Society the human body is approximately 60% water.
The importance of water is quite simple and straightforward; without that good ole’ H2O, we would all die within a matter of a few days. There’s no other resource on the planet that is more important to your survival than water!
In fact, people who routinely drink the recommended “6-8 glasses per day” (roughly a half-gallon), can enjoy the following benefits:
- Healthier skin
- Improved concentration & mental performance
- More energy and less fatigue
- Helps your kidneys flush out toxins
- Assists in keeping your appetite and bowel movements regulated
And so much more. The benefits of water are nearly endless.
So water is great…but should I skip the bottled water?
We’ll get right to the point:
The reason many people argue that bottled water should be avoided is because it normally does not contain enough fluoride to promote healthier teeth and fight cavities. In fact, some bottled water (distilled) water has been stripped of all chemicals vitamins and minerals.
While many people consider distilled water (created through a process known as reverse osmosis) to be the purest form of water, it still lacks fluoride.
Fluoride in tap water
For over 60 years, many communities in the United States have added fluoride to the water supply, which in turn has resulted in a significant decrease in childhood cavities.
Of course it isn’t a perfect 1:1 correlation (as dental care has also improved drastically in the last 60 years), but it is scientifically proven that fluoride aids in the prevention of cavities.
The verdict on bottled water
Reaching for a bottled water every now and then is not going to damage your health, and there’s nothing wrong with bottled water.
That being said, you should still aim to drink tap water so that you (or your child) receives an adequate level of fluoride to help fight cavities. If you are absolutely against drinking tap water, then it’s important that you add a fluoride supplement or treatment into your oral hygiene routine.
The bottom line is this: don’t let bottled water keep you or your child from getting the fluoride needed to prevent cavities!
If you are in or around the South Shore of Long Island, we invite you to contact our practice closest to you (Babylon Dental Care at Great South Bay & Babylon Dental Care at Gateway Plaza) to schedule your appointment today!
