Beverages that have a low pH — meaning they are more acidic — have the potential to wear away tooth enamel over time, particularly when consumed often and in large quantities. Regular water has a pH of 7, which is neutral. Coffee measures about 5, lemon juice about 2 and stomach acid about 1. For beverages we consume often, the pH level, ideally, should be above 4, which is considered a “critical threshold,” said John Ruby, adjunct professor of pediatric dentistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Anything below a pH of 4 increases risk of dental erosion, he said. In a 2016 study, Ruby and his colleagues tested the pH levels of nearly 400 beverages, and the findings were concerning. The study showed that most beverages tested — sports drinks, sodas, juices, fruit punches and many flavored waters — had a pH below 4. Many tested lower than 3.
What else you should know:
Sparkling water, which can be carbonated naturally or artificially, contains dissolved carbon dioxide gas that, through a chemical reaction, turns into carbonic acid, which gives it fizz and makes it more acidic than regular water. In terms of both dental and overall health, plain sparkling water is a far better alternative than sports drinks, sodas or fruit punch. But how much you drink may affect your dental health. Sipping from a bottle of sparkling water repeatedly throughout the day lowers the pH in the mouth and also may increase the risk of erosion, said Brittany Seymour, a spokeswoman for the American Dental Association and an associate professor at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Seymour said she would advise patients that routinely substituting sparkling water for plain water — or drinking more than two or three bottles per day — may be overdoing it.
Sparkling water is a better choice for your teeth than most popular beverages. Although sparkling water is more acidic than regular water, consuming it in normal amounts of a few bottles a day is unlikely to erode your tooth enamel.