Salute National Children’s Dental Health Month with a Glass of Water
Sometimes, as adults, we lead very busy (and stressful) lives and need to make choices that are fast and convenient. These may result in the lesser of healthy choices, but are easier nonetheless. But before you grab a juice box, soft drink, or other sugary beverage for your child due to its convenience, think about the impact it is having on their dental health. Water is and always will be the best beverage choice we and our children can make because of the health benefits and the added calories and sugars it doesn’t have.
Water is good for our health for a number of reasons. Water is essential to human health, and while it seems to be convenient, too many children are consuming sugary drinks as a substitute. According to experts, “Soft drink consumption is one of several leading causes of tooth decay. Carbonation, sugar and acids in soft drinks weaken tooth enamel and encourage the growth of bacteria that contribute to tooth decay.” Sugar in soda combines with bacteria in your mouth to form acid. Likewise, this acid, plus the extra acid from soft drinks, attacks the teeth. Each acid attack lasts about 20 minutes, and acid attacks start over again with every sip. Even sugar-free drinks can harm teeth. Although fruit drinks aren’t carbonated like soda, they too have acid and sugar that can cause decay.
Since water makes up more than two thirds of our body weight, it’s important to stay hydrated with contaminant-free water to maintain health and to prevent health consequences from chemicals or other pollutants. Bottled water is a poor choice because of its environmental impact, so tap water is still the best way to keep your child drinking healthy and paying attention to their dental health as well. The U.S. EPA has set standards for more than 80 primary contaminants that may occur in drinking water and pose a risk to human health. These standards, called maximum contaminant levels, are the safety limits established for safe drinking water. Not all contaminants are on this list, however. To supply your children with safe drinking water, consider one of our drinking water systems that will filter your water efficiently and effectively via reverse osmosis. It will turn your tap water into safe, pure drinking water so you can preserve your children’s dental health and reduce the amount of plastic waste from water bottles. Contact us today for a water purifier for your home.
