It’s no secret that steady and consistent hydration is a core component to our bodies working at their peak. The best source of hydration is, of course, pure unadulterated water. Other sources have many potential issues, including calories, sugars, and acids. A recent trend has seemed to suggest a middle ground in the form of sparkling water. After all, it contains no sugar, and the flavorings used are calorie-free, so what could be harmful about it? While decidedly better for you than other non-water sources of hydration, sparkling water is not without its own inherent risks. Countryside Smiles is here to educate you on the latest dental topics and how to protect your teeth, even from sparkling water.

How Sparkling Water Threatens Oral Health

If you’re surprised to learn that sparkling water contains a hidden threat to the health and beauty of your smile, you’re not alone. Millions of people are jumping on the sparkling water bandwagon in an effort to find a palatable source of hydration without all the unwanted sugar and calories. Sparkling water certainly hits on all those points, as it’s sugar-free, and the flavorings available are largely calorie-free. Unfortunately, there remains an inherent risk to your teeth in the form of carbonic acid. Carbonic acid occurs when water is infused with carbon dioxide to produce that bubbly carbonation that is the sparkling water’s signature, and it puts the health of your enamel at risk.

Natural, pure water is neutral in terms of being acid or basic. It won’t negatively impact the health of your smile and can even help limit the presence of acids in your mouth. However, carbonic acid increases the acidity of water, allowing it to attack your teeth and leave your enamel softened and vulnerable. This is of particular import to those patients who already experience dental sensitivity or otherwise have enamel that’s become compromised. While the best choice is to switch to non-sparkling water, if that’s not an option for you, consider the following tips for mitigating the damage caused by carbonic acid.

• Rinse – This simple step will help reduce carbonic acid in your mouth. After drinking a glass of sparkling water, rinse with regular water. This will stabilize the pH balance of your mouth, neutralizing the acids in the sparkling water.
• Alternate Beverages – Even better, alternate what you’re drinking. Switching back and forth between non-sparkling and sparkling water will make significant headway toward reducing the risk to your teeth. You can even keep using the flavorings in your non-sparkling water.  

Contact Countryside Smiles For More Hydration Tips

With summer upon us, staying hydrated is more important than ever. Protecting your oral health while staying hydrated requires understanding what poses a risk to your smile. When new trends like the sparkling water trend come along, it’s essential to understand the nuances of oral health and how seemingly harmless fads may put your teeth at risk. If you want to learn more, contact our office at (972) 957-7610 today and schedule your first appointment.