You already know drinking water is important to maintain health and hydration. But if you prefer sparkling to flat water, it might be damaging your teeth!
Carbonated water is just as hydrating, but the fizzy water may not be giving you a nutrient you need. Carbonated water doesn’t have the fluoride that tap water has. So, your teeth aren’t being protected.
However, if you use a product like SodaStream, you’ll get the fluoride, but if it’s all you drink for hydration – the carbon dioxide in the bubbles lowers the pH level in your mouth, which makes your saliva more acidic, and that’s bad for your enamel too!
Another side effect of carbonated water is you can feel more bloated, which may make acid reflux worse.
Now it’s not as bad for your teeth as colas or juices are, but it shouldn’t be the primary way to hydrate – flat water is still best. And it’s a lot less expensive too!
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