Are you about to uncap a bottle of sparkling water to quench your thirst? The thought of the delicious bubbles bouncing around in your mouth lights up your mind with excitement. Before you put the bottle to your lips, you suddenly wonder, “can sparkling water damage my teeth?” But, is sparkling water bad for your teeth?
Can Sparkling Water Damage Your Teeth?
It’s a valid question. Dental health is important, and if you’re reading this post, you probably care about your oral health. After all, no one likes the thought of having to wear dentures later in life, and the more you can do to care for your teeth now, the better off you will be in the long run.
Sparkling Water: What to Know
The problem with sparkling water, seltzer water, or carbonated water, is it has a more acidic pH than still water. When manufacturers produce sparkling water, they take standard spring or reverse osmosis water and pressurize it using carbon dioxide (CO2). The result is sparkling water, also known as club soda.
So, how does pumping CO2 into plain water make the water more acidic? Adding CO2 creates a chemical reaction lowering the pH and making it more acidic. Tap water typically has a pH of 7, while sparkling water has a pH of 5 to 6.
So, Can Sparkling Water Damage Your Teeth?
Research on the impact of consuming sparkling water and its effect on the teeth shows frequent consumption of CO2-infused beverages has a detrimental impact on dental health, resulting in brittle teeth and lower bone density.
However, the research shows that the milder acid content in sparkling water has a far less corrosive effect on teeth than sugary drinks such as soda and fruit juice. In fact, the study claims that there’s little evidence to suggest sparkling water has any damaging impact on dental health.
However, and here’s the kicker, drinking sparkling water infused with sweeteners and flavorings may cause degeneration of dental structures over time. So, drinking sugar-sweetened flavored sparkling water and seltzer water may not be good for your teeth, potentially having the same corrosive effect on your teeth as soda and fruit juice with long-term consumption.
Also, adding flavoring agents like fresh-squeezed lime juice to your sparkling water exposes your teeth to the same citric acids and high-glycemic carbohydrates found in fruit juice, resulting in dental degeneration.
Try These Teeth-Protective Tips if You Enjoy Drinking Sparkling Water
Rinse With Still Water After Drinking Sparkling Water
If you’re really concerned about the effect sparkling water might be having on your teeth, try swirling some fresh still water in your mouth to rinse your teeth after drinking sparkling water. Rinsing your mouth with still water dilutes the acids lingering on your teeth and mouth, removing any chance of causing tooth decay.
Don’t Add Slices of Orange or Lime to Sparkling Water
Leaving out these components removes any chance of acidic particles landing on your teeth, causing tooth enamel erosion. If you want to add limes or oranges to your sparkling water, follow the tip of rinsing your mouth thoroughly after finishing your beverage.
Avoid Drinking Flavored Sparkling Water
After a few weeks of practicing this strategy, you’ll find you crave flavored sparkling water less anyway. Plain unflavored still water is the best option to maintain optimal dental health and the best choice for strong, healthy teeth for the rest of your life.
Drink Plain Water
Unflavored still water is the best beverage choice for your dental health because you get all the benefits of minerals like calcium and fluoride in the water. Cities with good water management make it possible to drink tap water without any health concerns.
Drinking sparkling mineral water likely won’t damage your teeth. So long as the ingredients label states there’s nothing but water in the bottle, you shouldn’t worry about damaging your teeth.
Drink Sparkling Water After Coffee and Juices
If you drink coffee and juices during the morning, drink a bottle of sparkling water after you’ve had your fill of other beverages. The bubbles in sparkling water have a cleansing effect on your teeth, removing traces of milk solids and acids from the coffee and juice.
Drink Sparkling Water After Finishing A Meal
The sparkling water’s bubbling and cleansing effect also make it ideal for finishing a meal. The beverage’s carbonation helps clean food particles from the teeth, leaving your mouth refreshed and cleaner than if you drank just regular water, soda, or juice.
Brush Your Teeth After Drinking Sparkling Water
If you’re really concerned about the effects of the mild acidic content of sparkling water, just brush your teeth after drinking sparkling water.
All Smiles Family Dentistry in Omaha, NE
At All Smiles Family Dentistry, we are proud to provide high-quality care to all our patients both young and old thanks to our compassionate and experienced dental team. We offer a clean and comfortable clinic to help you feel relaxed during your visit. Contact All Smiles Family Dentist.