Is Sparkling Water Harming Your Teeth?

Dr Adam Stone, a dentist in London's Harley Street, warns that most people have no idea that fizzy water is extremely acidic. It's considered the virtuous option compared to other fizzy drinks and often more refreshing than standard still water.

But sparkling water is not as harmless as most of us think - and is actually more acidic than wine and vinegar, this dentist has warned. 'Most people have no idea that fizzy water is extremely acidic, it's pH3 on the acidity scale. The bubbles erode your tooth enamel - and over time this causes painful yellow cracked teeth. With pH7 being neutral, the figures make alarming reading. By comparison salad dressing (e.g. vinegar) has a pH3.6.

Enamel erosion occurs when acids, including those in a normal healthy diet, attack the outer layer (the enamel) of teeth, making it softer and weaker. But the main culprit is our culture of constant sipping and snacking throughout the day, he says.

How to prevent it:

- Give your teeth a 3-4 hour break between meals.

- Avoid frequent snacks.

- Finish your meal with a crunchy vegetable (carrot, stalk of celery, cauliflower, piece of bell pepper, sweet pepper, leaf of cabbage, a small stick of cut up cucumber) to help clean the teeth and stimulate saliva.

- Chew some sugar-free chewing gum for 10 minutes.

- When you have finished brushing, spit out excess toothpaste but do not rinse with water! If you rinse with water, you will get rid of the fluoride. If you absolutely want to rinse your teeth after brushing, use a fluoride mouthwash.