Water you talking about?
Drinking water throughout the day is apparently bad for your teeth, according to a dentist.
Dr. Ellie Phillips, a dentist based in Austin, Texas, posts educational videos to her TikTok account where she has 219k followers.
In one video, which has nearly 14,000 views since being posted two days ago, she discusses why sipping water throughout the day can damage your pearly whites.
“This is why sipping on water all throughout the day is not good for your teeth. And this applies to all liquids. The spit or the saliva that comes into your mouth is the mouth’s most healing liquid,” Phillips explained.
“It can help heal your teeth because it’s full of all the minerals that your teeth need and there are also … immune cells and proteins that are necessary for gum healing.”
Medical research backs up her claims. Saliva has proteins and minerals that protect tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay and gum disease, according to Web MD.
By drinking water all day you’re diluting your saliva and lessening its benefits, Phillips explained.
“This is why people who sip liquids all day have sensitive teeth, gum recession, cracked enamel. Their teeth are weak, they break, they think they need night guards and retainers. What they need is to give their own saliva … adequate time to interact with their teeth and gums,” she said.
Another thing people can do to make sure that they’re getting enough saliva in their mouths is to breathe through their noses instead.
“If you can, close your mouth and lick your teeth, if your front teeth feel dry and allow your own healing liquid in your mouth, it’s free, you don’t have to go anywhere and buy it.”
She said people can drink at meal times or drink more water during a limited time of the day so that their saliva has time to accumulate in their mouth.
Her followers were quick to comment on her video, which left some of them scratching their heads.
“So how i should drink water?” one said.
“This is contradictory to drinking water for proper digestion. This makes things very confusing,” another said.
“So we aren’t supposed to drink while we eat, we aren’t supposed to drink ice water, and now we aren’t supposed to sip all day? Wow,” said a third.
The Post has reached out to Phillips for comment.