What is sparkling water and what are some negative effects of drinking too much?
Sparkling water is created by infusing water with carbon dioxide under pressure. The fizz you see and hear is the carbon dioxide escaping from the water. Additives such as salts, minerals, and artificial flavorings are added to the water to change its taste. You can find many different products of sparkling water:
- Seltzer water: Plain carbonated water.
- Club soda and mineral water: Club soda is carbonated plain water with salts and mineral added while mineral water is natural spring water that is carbonated.
- Flavor water: Sparkling water with artificial flavors.
Although sparkling water seems to be a much better option than soft drinks because sparkling water contains no sugar. The sugars in soft drinks can promote tooth decay because bacteria inside the mouth thrives from sugars. Drinking too much soft drinks can lead to cavities or enamel erosion. On the other hand, carbonated water is thought to be a better healthier alternative to soft drinks. However, this may seem too good to be true because carbonated water can be slightly acidic. Carbonation of water creates carbonic acids. Generally, the pH of carbonated water is around 3 – 4, which mean it’s acidic while plain water has a neutral pH of about 7. Depending on the brand and type of sparkling water, the acidity levels in sparkling water can vary. The citrus flavored sparkling water can have a much lower pH than unflavored sparkling water. In general, the negative effects of carbonic acids can wear the tooth enamel. The longer and acidic drink stays in the mouth the pH inside a person mouth drops much more noticeably. It is understood that acids can erode the tooth enamel, but research on sparkling water effects on enamel erosion is not conclusive. It could be argued that if drinking sparkling water on a routine basis over time, the small effects of carbonic acids can wear down tooth enamel.
What are the health concern verdict of sparkling water?
Despite some concerns, choosing sparkling water over soda is a much better choice. Still, the acids in non-sugary sparkling drinks are weak. If you are still concern about the potential effects of enamel erosion from drinking sparkling water, consider drinking it occasionally or just choose plain water. The effects of long-term effects of sparkling water on teeth health needs more study.
If you have concern about enamel erosions or tooth sensitivity, consider giving California Dental Group a call (800) 407-0161 to schedule your next appointment.
