Does Sparkling Water Have an Impact on Teeth?
Now, as you are well aware, you are supposed to drink several glasses of water a day. Unfortunately, most people find this difficult to do since water can be rather bland. At the same time, you have been warned to stay away from sweetened or fizzy drinks such as soda since they can damage your teeth. It is due to these reasons that an increasing number of people are turning to sparkling water as an alternative. First off, it doesn’t have the same harmful ingredients that traditional sodas do. Furthermore, it is a lot tastier (and more exciting) to drink than water. However, as more people have started buying sparkling water, concerns over its negative impact on your teeth have also risen. So, to understand whether this beverage really is bad for your teeth and oral health, keep reading…
pH Values and Your Teeth
Before delving into whether sparkling water is bad for your teeth or not, you first have to understand the relationship between pH and teeth. As you probably know, pH values are used to denote the level of acidity or alkalinity of a particular substance. Pure water has a neutral value at 7. However, since you are probably drinking tap or filtered water, you will be consuming a liquid that has a value of 6 to 8.5. This is an acceptable level and is still considered healthy for your teeth. What you need to be concerned about are drinks that have a lower pH. Since these are identified as acidic, they can often erode your teeth to a certain degree. According to the health experts, drinks that had a pH value lower than 3 were considered to be “extremely erosive” while those between 3 and 3.99 were “erosive”. Drinks slightly higher than pH 4 were labeled as being “minimally erosive”.
pH Values of Sparkling Water
So, where does sparkling water fall on this spectrum? Well, it would appear that there is no set pH value for sparkling water. Rather, its levels depend on the brand as well as the flavor. It should also be noted that the pH changes with temperature as well. For instance, it was discovered that warm sparkling water has a higher pH than cold versions of the beverage. The reason this is of interest is because most people will drink their sparkling water at a colder temperature. Thus, they will expose their teeth to a slightly lower pH. Now, for the most part, sparkling waters will vary between pH 4.4 and 5.88. Nevertheless, they are all above 4. At the same time, none of the drinks really come to close to the pH value of water. Not to mention, there are certain brands that can be described as being minimally erosive.
Sparkling Water and Additives
You should also keep in mind that not all sparkling water brands are created equal. Now, if you were to opt for a brand that is literally carbonated water, then you will be fine. However, there are many companies that add various additives and even sugars to their drinks. These, of course, are to make the drinks more palatable. Unfortunately, certain ingredients can have an effect on the pH, causing it to lower. What’s more, if there is sugar added in the sparkling water, it can be just as bad for you as soda. If you do want to drink sparkling water, it is best to stick with the original versions and flavors. Stay away from ones that have been altered in any way, even if they do taste better. All of these ingredients may end up damaging your teeth.
What’s the Verdict?
Of course, the main question you want answered is: is sparkling water bad for your teeth? Well, this is a bit of a complex situation. On the one hand, sparkling water isn’t nearly as harmful to your teeth as certain sodas and sports drink. At the same time, you can’t really consider it as a wholly healthy alternative to regular drinking water. Furthermore, you need to be careful about the kind of sparkling water that you drink. So, always make sure to check the label of any brand that you buy. The fewer ingredients there are, the better. It is just as important to keep an eye out for the sugar content as well. You should stay away from sparkling waters that have any kind of sugar content. If you would like to keep your teeth as healthy as possible, you should focus on drinking water above all other beverages. This is the best way to keep your mouth hydrated while also staving off a number of other dental issues. In case you would like to drink something other than water, then sparkling water will make for a nice treat. This is especially true when you compare it to the other beverages that you can drink. Still, make sure to limit your intake. What’s more, you should get into the habit of rinsing out your mouth with pure (or filtered) water once you have consumed sparkling water. Keep in mind, it can be mildly erosive, especially if you drink a large quantity of it. To minimize the effects of the drink, reduce the acidity in your mouth by neutralizing the environment with water. You should also wait a while before you brush your teeth as well. For the most part, the fears regarding sparkling water are largely unfounded. This is especially true in the case of sugar-free, carbonated water. Despite this, you shouldn’t reach for it over regular water. If you do have more specific questions about sparkling water – or any other beverage – it is best to speak to your dentist in turkey. After all, each person’s teeth, gums, and oral health are different. Thus, it is only your dentist who will be able to inform you which beverages are suitable for you to drink and which ones you should stay away from. So, you should direct all of your questions to them, whenever you have an appointment.
Premium Dental Turkey Medical Reference | Written by Dr. Dt.Furkan Altinel & Ismail Kilic on 2019-10-21 07:36:29