BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE .. LET'S GRAB A WATER!

When it’s warmer inside than it is outside, the last thing you might crave is a glass of cold water. But your body still needs it.
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It’s pretty easy to become dehydrated in the winter, what with Southern Ontario’s dry, heated interiors and cold, dry exteriors. While thirst is a good indication of dehydration, it usually comes too late: If you are thirsty, you may already be dehydrated.

Other symptoms of dehydration may include chapped lips and skin; an annoying, dry cough; nosebleeds; a mild headache that won’t go away, and skin blemishes.
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Avoiding dehydration is important for your overall health - and that includes your oral health, too. Adequate water intake will keep your salivary glands operating properly, helping rid your mouth of excess food debris and bacteria.

LAKEPORT DENTAL STAFF HAVE PUT TOGETHER A FEW TIPS FOR GETTING MORE WATER INTO YOUR SYSTEM, TO KEEP YOUR BODY RUNNING SMOOTHLY IN WINTER’S COLD, DRY TEMPERATURES:

- Adjust the temperature of the water you’re drinking from super cold to room temperature, and top it with a slice of non-citrus fruit to add flavour.

- Switch out one of your hot, caffeinated beverages for hot, herbal tea. Cold herbal tea makes a nice treat, too - it’s a lighter, flavourful version of iced tea that won’t keep you up at night.

- Eat soup. Hot soup made with a clear fluid base is a good way to ingest fluids during cold weather.
 
- Snack on juicy, flavour fruit - it’s another way to add fluids to your diet.

- Every time you brush your teeth, drink a glass of water. It’s a good habit to have, no matter the season.

- Make it a personal rule that if you are consuming alcohol, you will also drink a glass of water. This will make it easier for your body to deal with the alcohol you have taken in.

- Invest in a good humidifier for your home or office. Adding a little moisture to the air can help skin from feeling dry and flaky, and make it easier to breathe. If you don’t have a humidifier, filling a bathtub part-way with water and allowing it to evaporate into the air is another way to add moisture to your home environment.

Keeping up with your body’s need for water can be challenging in the winter, but with these tips, you may find yourself reaching for your water glass willingly, and more often.

Drinking water daily is one of those good habits that will benefit your overall health, and particularly, your oral health. And you know what they say: Good habits are hard to break!

Come talk to us at Lakeport Dental about your good health habits! To make an appointment, call the office at 905-934-0235 

OR visit our website and schedule an appointment at the following link: Click Here!