Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

Water filters are used by homeowners everywhere to help make water taste better, and to remove certain byproducts that can get into water supplies. However, if you're leaving your water filter on while you brush your teeth, you may be missing out on something that could improve your oral health. Here's why you should switch your filter off while you brush.

Added Fluoride

The vast majority of the country has added fluoride to their water supplies. This is because fluoride has been shown to be extremely helpful in improving oral health.

Fluoride strengthens teeth, which helps to prevent cavities. This is especially important in this day and age, as people are eating more sugar and carbohydrates, which can induce tooth decay. However, not everyone is benefiting from fluoride despite it being in their water supply.

Removes Fluoride

Unfortunately, many water filters take some or all fluoride out of your tap water. When this happens, you don't receive the full benefits of your water supply. This means that your entire family could be at a higher risk of developing cavities simply because you're using a water filter.

What to Do

There are a few options here to improve your oral health and to get fluoride consumption back in your life.

The first obvious option is to simply switch off your water filter while you brush your teeth. If you use a cup of water to rinse, just turn off your filter, fill it up, and then turn it back on. You can also leave your filter off for the duration of brushing if you just rinse at the faucet. However, if you live in an area with contaminated water and this isn't an option, that doesn't mean you can't benefit from fluoride.

To ensure that you're getting enough fluoride, make sure to only purchase toothpaste with fluoride in it. This will boost the strength of your teeth while you brush. In addition, you can use fluoride mouthwash to get the benefits of fluoride between your teeth, just like you would if you were rinsing with fluoridated water after brushing.

If you or your family have experienced cavities in the past or seem to be prone to cavities and use a water filter, it could be the lack of fluoride in your life. Talk to a dentist to find out what other steps you can take to improve your oral health and switch off the water filter the next time you go to brush.