Summer can get pretty hot here in Kentucky! It’s important to make sure your family is drinking enough water. You’ll stay hydrated and safer in the heat, whether your kids are at ball practice or you’re out doing yardwork. Plus, if you learn how to drink more water now, you’ll be more likely to maintain this healthy habit for a lifetime. And so will your kids!

Water is not just good for your whole body. It’s good for your teeth too. That’s something we often tell our patients here at Edgewood Dental Care during their checkups. Water can help:

  • Prevent or relieve dry mouth
  • Fight bacteria buildup that causes gum disease
  • Wash away food particles that lead to cavities
  • Give your teeth the fluoride needed to strengthen enamel when added to tap water

Read on to get some easy tips on drinking more water. Then call our Edgewood, KY dentist office at 859-474-7830 to set up checkups for your entire family.

7 Tips to Drink More Water

1. Use an app

These days, nearly everyone has a smartphone. Why not put this technology to good use for you and your whole family? A fitness app can allow you to input your daily water intake. If you prefer, or if your kids don’t have phones, print a calendar and let them add up tallies. Sometimes you don’t even know how much or how little you consume until you see it in writing.

At the end of the day or week, compare your amounts with everyone else’s in the family.
Aim for about eight 8-oz. glasses if you’re an adult. Kids should get about six to eight cups a day.

2. Invest in a reusable bottle

This is one of the easiest ways to drink more water. Get a water bottle you like and keep it beside you at all times. That means at work, in the car, at the kids’ athletic events, at the gym, when you’re out running errands –  the list goes on. If it’s beside you, you might be surprised how often you reach for it.
The measurements on the side of the bottle can help, too. For example, make it a goal to drink to a certain level before lunch.
Let the kids pick out their own bottles, too. If they get one they like and keep it around, it’ll help them drink more too. Write their name in permanent marker on the bottom.
Just remember to wash the bottles regularly!

3. Keep a pitcher (filtered or otherwise) in the fridge at all times

Some people like cold water only. If you don’t have a water filter on your fridge, make sure you keep water in the refrigerator. You can also buy a filter for your sink if you don’t have room or prefer the taste of filtered water.

4. Add fruit to your water

That pitcher of water is a lot more appealing with fruit inside! Try slicing orange, lemons, or limes and add them to the pitcher. Cucumbers and mint are a great addition too. So is basil and lemon.
Pineapple chunks with strawberries and blueberries make a refreshing blend, too, as do blackberries with lemon. The possibilities are endless! You might even get the kids to pitch in by asking what they’d like inside and letting them help prepare it if they’re old enough.

5. Replace drinks at meals with water

Why not drink water at every meal instead of soda, sweet tea, or lemonade? It’s much better for your teeth without all the added sugar. It saves calories. And it’s also refreshing. Sip between bites, and make sure you drink a whole glass or two with dinner. Setting simple goals like that will help you get used to drinking more water and more water more often.
Serve water instead of Kool-Aid, lemonade, or juice for your kids, too. Put it in their reusable water bottle or a special cup with a crazy straw if that’s what it takes for them to drink it.

6. Replace soda with sparkling water

Sparkling water can be found at almost any grocery store. There are many brands and flavors to choose from. Try one next time you’re craving a fizzy drink. (You’ll still need to brush your teeth at night with the citric acid found in many of them.)

7. Drink a glass of water after you brush your teeth in the morning

If you brush your teeth right when you wake up, drink a glass of water directly after. That’s one glass out of the way before you even start your day! You’ll also be hydrating yourself first thing in the morning.
Some people drink a glass of ice water to help them wake up more. Others prefer a cup of hot water in the morning with citrus, like lemon slices.

Boost Your Health & Smile with More Water

Now that you know how to drink more water, it’s time to put these tips to the test! Start with one or two if that’s easier for you.

For more nutritional tips, or to schedule your next checkup to keep your teeth healthy, call Edgewood Dental Care at 859-474-7830. You can contact our Edgewood, KY dentist office online too.