Is sparkling water your drink of choice right now? Perhaps you’re trying to lay off the alcohol? Or maybe trying to rid your diet of fizzy drinks we all know are terrible for our health?
Let’s be honest, sometimes plain old water just won’t cut it when you want something that’s refreshing, non-alcoholic and not terribly bad for you on a summers day.
Water of the sparkling variety seems to be a drink of choice with numerous cafes and restaurants offering it on tap, households reaching for their soda streams or stocking their fridges with the stuff.
However many news headlines are now telling us to be cautious – but how bad can a beverage without any sugar (or any other ingredient) be bad for us?
We asked Lumino The Dentists’ Dr Steven Casci why we need to be careful drinking carbonated water.
“All carbonated drinks, including sparkling water, are in some way acidic as they contain carbonic acid – basically the dissolved carbon dioxide that forms bubbles when the bottle is opened,” he says.
“As a profession, we are often concerned about sources of dietary acid as we know that prolonged exposure to acidic food and drinks can result in erosion of tooth enamel.”
Enamel erosion can lead to teeth cracking, teeth yellowing and teeth sensitivity and cavities.
Steven says, that although sparkling water is more acidic than plain water, “it is far less acidic than orange juice or a soft drink.”
He adds: “Like many things, sparkling water is fine in moderation!”
Tips for enjoying sparkling water
- Drink in moderation.
- Be mindful of what’s in your sparkling water. Flavoured waters often have higher acid levels.
- Rather than exposing your teeth to acid throughout the day, make sure you take breaks from eating and/or drinking – this is to give your saliva a chance to clean your teeth.
- Use a straw to direct the water down your throat rather than onto your teeth.
- Be sure to drink plenty of regular, fluoridated water, too—it’s the best beverage for your teeth. Water with fluoride naturally helps fight cavities, washes away the leftover food cavity-causing bacteria feast on and keeps your mouth from becoming dry (which can put you at a higher risk of cavities).