Water vs. Sparkling Water vs. Soda

Proper hydration is extremely important, even in the Winter months. But sometimes we crave a little more than just water for refreshment.  Sometimes we want a nice sparkling water or a crisp soda, but what are those drinks doing to our teeth?

Plain, un-sparkling water is still the best for your teeth. Not only does it not harm your tooth enamel, it actually helps by washing away any food particles and bacteria left over in your mouth from other foods and drinks. Soda on the other hand is one of the worst drinks for your teeth and it maybe not be for the reasons you think.

We all know that many sodas are full of sugar, and while sugar is bad because it feeds the bacteria in your mouth, it’s actually the acid you need to worry about. Acid will erode your tooth enamel and lead to cavities; in fact, acid is the reason that sugar is bad for your teeth too! The bacteria in your mouth eat the sugar and produce acid. This is why even diet sodas are bad for your teeth, because although they lack sugar, they have plenty of acid still. The pH level of sodas can vary quiet a but from 4.75 all the way down to 2.3. Tooth enamel starts to dissolve at a pH level of 5.5, so most if not all sodas will be harmful for your teeth.

Sparkling water is another common drink that people choose and is much better than sodas. Although they are more acidic than regular water, it is still less than the amount that would erode or damage your tooth enamel. Most sparkling water tends to be between 5-6 pH. However, some sparkling waters are flavored and cause be more acidic and can get below that 5.5 pH level that will erode teeth. Normal water pH tends to be around 6 and won’t cause any harm.

There are however ways to make your teeth more resistant to acids. Fluoride is one of the best minerals for your teeth and will help protect your tooth enamel from harmful acids. If you want to have your teeth cleaned from all those acids or are interested in how fluoride can help protect your teeth, give us a call at (210) 877-2273and set up an appointment with Wurzbach Parkway Family Dental today and let us help improve your oral health!