Is sparkling water bad for your teeth?

If your dentist in Fort Lauderdale has suggested reducing your intake of or giving up soda because it has been shown to damage your teeth, switching to sparkling water seems like a great compromise, right?  Think again. While drinking trendy sparkling waters like LaCroix, AHA, Sparkling ICE, or Bubly can encourage you to stay hydrated or to reduce your sugar intake, they are still bad for your teeth.

What makes sparkling water "bad" for teeth?

Dr. Nancy Rotroff and Dr. Gerard Wasselle discourage our patients from consuming much soda. We have all been told sugar causes tooth decay, but it’s actually acid produced by the bacteria that eat that sugar that does the damage. The bacteria in your mouth feed on the sugar and produce acid. This acid attaches to the surface of your teeth in plaque and can erode through your enamel, causing cavities and exposing the softer inside of your teeth (dentin) to further potential damage.  If you consume a great deal of soft drinks, you may notice your teeth becoming yellow over time due to the acidity of the beverage. In addition to soda, drinking sports drinks and fruit juices, which also contain high concentrations of sugar, is harmful to your teeth.  Be aware of the frequency that you expose your teeth to sugar throughout the day. Nursing soft drinks or sports drinks throughout your day significantly contributes to the development of tooth decay.

 While sparkling water, in most cases, eliminates sugar, you are still bathing your teeth to acid.  When carbon dioxide gas is introduced to water,  it creates a low 5-6 pH carbonic acid solution.  Because carbonated water contains carbonic acid, it, like any acid, is a threat to your teeth. Unflavored sparkling water has a pH of about 5, compared to regular tap water which has a pH of about 7. The flavor drops or flavor infusions that give some waters their tasty appeal can lower the pH even more, to as low as 3 or 2.5!! 

Given the choice of guzzling soda or sipping sparkling water, your Fort  Lauderdale dentist is likely to recommend the sparkling water as a better choice for your overall health. Further, we recommend using a straw to reduce contact of the sparkling water with your teeth.  For our patients who already have weak enamel, existing tooth decay, or other oral health problems, we recommend plain water. Every person has a different oral health situation so we encourage you to talk to your dentist or hygienist about your nutrition habits when you visit.

How can I reduce my risk of enamel damage?

There are a number of ways to improve your overall oral pH levels in order to reduce your liklihood of enamel damage.  

• Wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth
• When you consume an acidic beverage, eat food with it.  Finish your meal with regular flat water to rinse your mouth. 
• Visit your dentist regularly. Your dental exams are designed to detect any issues early so they can be treated and keep your mouth healthy.
• Do not ignore abnormal symptoms, such as having a dry mouth
• Drink regular flat water more often

Excellence in Dentistry provides the best dental care for your entire family.  Our dentists practice general and restorative dentistry - everything from your dental cleaning and exam to tooth fillings, dental crowns, dental veneers, dental implant crowns, dental bridges, partials and dentures.  Our dentists have over 60 years combined experience and advanced training to provide the best cosmetic dentistry solutions for our loyal patients in South Florida. Our goal is to partner with you for your optimal oral health- both a beautiful and a functional smile.  Dr. Nancy Rotroff and Dr. Gerard Wasselle encourage our patients to reduce the amount of sugary and acidic drinks they consume in order to protect their teeth.  We also encourage our patients to visit our office regularly for checkups and dental cleanings. Call our office at 954-928-1666 and our friendly staff will schedule your appointment and file all of your dental insurance billing for you. 

Excellence in Dentistry provides general and restorative dentistry : dental exams and cleanings, fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures and partials, tooth extraction and wisdom tooth extraction, and implant crowns.  Our dentists have extensive training and provide the very best in cosmetic dentistry: dental crowns, dental veneers, dental bonding, tooth whitening, and clear aligners. IV sedation is available for our patient's comfort.  If you seek the best dentist in Broward County, call our office to schedule an appointment today.

Excellence in Dentistry

2480 E. Commercial Blvd, Suite 2

Fort Lauderdale, FL  33308