Those of us who sip on sparkling water throughout the day may think we are doing our teeth (and health) a favor by not splurging on sugary sodas. The fact is, however, that sparkling or carbonated water can be just as harmful for our teeth as sugary drinks.
Sparkling water is acidic and acid erodes our teeth over time. The fluoride that is in toothpaste, mouth wash, and drinking water helps re-mineralize teeth. Yet if bacteria is left on for too long and if acidic food and drinks are consumed too frequently throughout the day, then the tooth surface will be susceptible to decay.
Just how acidic is sparkling water? In an article from Today's Health and Wellness (and Dr. Andre Ritter), sparkling is not as acidic as soda, but plain water is best. "To see why, consult a pH scale: the lower the number, the more acidic the substance. Pure water has a pH level of 7. Bottled water — even some of the non-fizzy variety — has a pH level of 5-7; while sodas can be as low as 2, Ritter noted". Read more from the full article here: http://www.today.com/health/sparkling-water-bad-your-teeth-dentists-weigh-t70761
