2024-04-19 04:00:34
Although they are good for your health, sparkling water is not your tooth enamel’s friend.
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According to Harvard, drinking certain sparkling waters would be disastrous for your teeth
It has carved out a privileged place for itself on the tables of restaurants and homes. In recent years, carbonated water has gradually replaced other sugary or carbonated drinks, especially soft drinks. So much so that it begins to encroach on the terrain of the venerable still waters. The mineral content (calcium, magnesium) is known for its health benefits. But it seems that for the teeth the consumption is a real nuisance. We explain why. Image credit: Shutterstock
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The dangers of sugar
Taking care of your teeth requires good oral hygiene and this of course involves what you eat, but also what you drink. Dentists obviously recommend being wary of fruit juices and soft drinks. In the question? Sugar they contain. The reason we need to keep sugar off our teeth (and our health in general) is because the bacteria in our mouths use it as a food source. By feeding on these sugars, the bacteria release acids that gradually erode the crystals in the tooth enamel. Image credit: Shutterstock
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Avoid wine
Drinks that reduce saliva production also damage our teeth. Alcohol, especially white wine, is known to cause dehydration. However, saliva is important for tooth protection as it helps eliminate harmful bacteria. To have beautiful and strong teeth, you must therefore avoid wine and favor water. But not all water. Image credit: Shutterstock
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Fizzy water is bad for your teeth
If you thought sparkling water didn’t affect your teeth like soda can, think again. Slate addresses the results of a study carried out on the effect of these waters on tooth enamel. The acidity of this drink is to blame. Drinks with a low pH, i.e. higher acidity, can gradually damage the enamel, especially when consumed frequently and in large quantities. Ordinary water, with a pH of around 7, is considered neutral. In comparison, coffee has a pH of 5, while lemon juice has a pH of 2. Photo credit: Shutterstock
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Two sparkling waters
During this study, however, two sparkling waters stood out: San Pellegrino, with a pH of 4.96, and Perrier, whose pH was 5.25. These two carbonated waters, which have a pH greater than 4, would in advance be without danger to dental health. Additionally, some caution is advised when it comes to home carbonation devices: the pH value of carbonated water produced by SodaStream can vary between 3.58 and 3.74. Image credit: Shutterstock
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Do not brush after drinking sparkling water
If you like plain, tasteless sparkling water, it’s a good idea not to brush your teeth within thirty minutes of drinking it, especially if you drank it during a meal. Since sparkling water is slightly acidic and can erode enamel, brushing immediately can cause additional wear and tear that can be harmful to your teeth. Image credit: Shutterstock
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To consume in moderation
Although it is preferable to prefer stagnant water, bubbling water does not represent a major health risk. It is still a healthier option compared to most energy drinks, soft drinks or juices. However, it is important to be aware of the amount consumed. Brittany Seymour, a professor at Harvard Medical School, warns against excessive consumption. “I advise my patients not to systematically replace still water with sparkling water, or to drink more than two or three bottles per day.” Image credit: Shutterstock
It has carved out a privileged place for itself on the tables of restaurants and homes. In many years, carbonated water is gradually replacing other sugary or carbonated drinks, especially soft drinks. So much so that it begins to encroach on the terrain of the venerable still waters. The mineral content (calcium, magnesium) is known for its health benefits. But it seems that too the teethconsumption is a real nuisance. We explain why.
Drinks that are bad for your teeth
Taking care of your teeth requires good oral hygiene and this of course involves what we eat, but also what we drink. Dentists obviously recommend being wary of fruit juices and soft drinks. In the question? Sugar they contain. If we have to keep sugar away of our teeth (and our health in general), this is because the bacteria in our mouths use them as a food source. By feeding on these sugars, the bacteria release acids that gradually erode the crystals in the tooth enamel.
Drinks that reduce saliva production also damage our teeth. It is known that alcohol, in particular the white wine, leads to dehydration. However, saliva is important for tooth protection as it helps eliminate harmful bacteria. To have beautiful and strong teeth, you must therefore avoid wine and favor water. But not all water.
The dangers of sparkling water
If you thought so sparkling water didn’t affect your teeth like soda can, think again. Slate addresses the results of a study carried out on the effect of these waters on tooth enamel. The acidity of this drink is to blame. Beverages with a low pH, i.e. greater acidity, can gradually damage the enamel, especially when consumed frequently and in large quantities. Ordinary water, with a pH of around 7, is considered neutral. In comparison, coffee has a pH of 5, while lemon juice has a pH of 2.
During this study, two sparkling waters were examined: San Pellegrinowith a pH of 4.96, and The Perrier, whose pH was 5.25. These two carbonated waters, which have a pH greater than 4, would in advance be without danger to dental health. Additionally, some caution is advised when it comes to home carbonation devices: the pH value of carbonated water produced by SodaStream can vary between 3.58 and 3.74.
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Advice from specialists
If you like plain, tasteless sparkling water, it’s a good idea to do so don’t brush your teeth within thirty minutes of ingestion, especially if you drank it during a meal. Since sparkling water is slightly acidic and can erode the enamel, immediate brushing can cause extra wear and tear which can be harmful to the teeth.
Although still water is preferred, carbonated water does not represent a major health risk. It is still a healthier option compared to most energy drinks, soft drinks or juices. It is nevertheless important to take into account the quantity consumed. Brittany Seymour, a professor at Harvard Medical School, warns against excessive consumption. « I advise my patients not to systematically replace still water with sparkling water, or to drink more than two or three bottles per day..
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