*Updated July 2025
Drinking the correct amount of water daily offers a range of benefits for your body, from regulating temperature and cushioning joints to aiding digestion, preventing constipation, and protecting tissues and organs. But the benefits of water don’t stop there. Water also plays an important role in keeping your mouth healthy.
Choosing water over sugary beverages is one of the best ways to care for your oral health. It’s time to put down the soda and learn more about the oral health benefits of water.
Oral health benefits of water
Fluoridated water keeps teeth strong
If you drink water from a tap, you’re helping your teeth and bones stay strong by ingesting tiny amounts of fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in your teeth and bones. It’s also found in soil, water, plants, and even the air. The mineral helps prevent cavities and tooth decay by strengthening the outer layer of teeth, or enamel. This is why many oral health products, such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, contain fluoride.
The fluoridation of public water started in 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to the 2022 Water Fluoridation Data and Statistics report, about 72 percent of the population of the United States has access to fluoridated water.
One of the key benefits of water, especially when it contains fluoride, is its ability to help prevent cavities and tooth decay.
Note: Some water filtration devices, such as reverse osmosis systems, can remove a significant amount of fluoride from tap water. Therefore, people who drink primarily from these systems may not get the benefits of the fluoridation of water.
Water cleans your mouth
Another way to reap the benefits of water is to sip on it throughout the day. This simple action is one of the most effective ways to keep your mouth clean. Although drinks like soda and juice may leave your teeth feeling clean, the reality is sugar particles are left behind. Naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth break down these sugar particles and produce acids that soften the hard tissues of your teeth.
Other chemicals found in sugary drinks, such as phosphoric, citric, or malic acids, can also eat away at your teeth’s enamel, thus increasing the risk of tooth decay and cavities.
Like saliva, water cleans your teeth and helps to wash away food debris, unwanted sugar, and acid produced by bacteria in your mouth.
Water supports saliva production
Saliva, or the clear liquid that’s formed in your mouth, is incredibly important to your oral health because it plays many roles when it comes to the health of your mouth. It helps start the digestion process by lubricating food, helps wash away food debris, and can slow the growth of unwanted bacteria, to name a few.
When there’s not enough saliva being produced, it can lead to xerostomia, more commonly known as dry mouth. Dry mouth is a serious oral health condition that can cause the tongue, gums, and other tissues to become painful and swollen. It also increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Your salivary glands rely on proper hydration to produce enough saliva. Among the many benefits of water, supporting saliva production is one of the most important.
Water is the best choice when it comes to supporting oral health
A nice, refreshing glass of water is always the best choice when it comes to caring for your oral health. From keeping your mouth clean to strengthening your teeth, the benefits of water make it an essential part of a healthy smile.