Sparkling water is damaging teeth, warns Dr Edmond Hewlett

July 16, 2017

Sparkling water is more acidic than plain, which may be worsened by additives
Fizzy water-drinkers should be careful not to swish the drink in their mouths
People with a high saliva flow may be able to drink sparkling water more often
Sparkling water is still a better choice of beverage than other soft drinks
Yet, plain water is the safest drink available when it comes to good dental health

Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline

Published:
10:36 EDT, 11 July 2017

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Updated:
11:19 EDT, 11 July 2017

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Fizzy water is damaging our teeth as its acidity wears down enamel, an expert warns.

Sparkling water is more acidic than the plain version of the beverage, which is made worse by its common inclusion of additives, according to Dr Edmond Hewlett from the UCLA School of Dentistry.

Drinking fizzy water causes a chemical reaction that produces carbonic acid and gives the drink its distinctive ‘crisp’ taste, however, that same substance may also seriously damage our dental health.

Fizzy water-drinkers should be particularly careful not to swish it around their mouths when drinking.

Yet, those with a high saliva flow may be able to get away with drinking the beverage more often.

Fizzy water is damaging our teeth as its acidity wears down enamel, an expert warns (stock)

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FIZZY WATER MAKES US PUT ON WEIGHT

The carbon dioxide in fizzy water may make you fat by encouraging you to eat more, it was revealed in May,

Scientists have discovered that when we ingest the gas in a drink, it triggers a surge in a key hunger hormone.

Researchers who studied rats found those given ‘flat’ sugary drinks alongside their normal diet put on no more weight than those given still water.

Yet those given fizzy drinks – including zero-calorie versions containing artificial sweeteners – piled on the pounds.

Additives make fizzy water worse

Dr Hewlett said: ‘The dental safety of sparkling water is not a heavily researched area.

‘What we do know, however, is that many commonly consumed beverages (for example, waters, juices, sodas and sports drinks) are, to varying degrees, acidic, as measured by their pH.’

Acidic drinks are known to erode enamel, yet according to Dr Hewlett the additives put into fizzy water may make the problem worse.

Saliva flow may be protective

Dr André Ritter, chair of the department of operative dentistry at the University of North Carolina, added: ‘If you’re sipping and keeping that acidic drink in your mouth and swishing around every time you sip, and if you do this often, multiple times a day, then that’s probably the most dangerous kind of behavior when it comes to tooth wear.

‘If you’re healthy and if you have normal saliva flow, you’re less vulnerable so your risk is lower, you can possibly drink a little bit more, more often.’

Ritter added fizzy water is still a better option than other soft drinks, however, plain mineral water is the safest choice when it comes to dental health.