Drink it like sparkling water, and it melts your teeth

How sparkling water affects dental health

Carbonated water is a refreshing beverage made by dissolving carbon dioxide in water. With the growing concern about health, many people are opting for low-calorie sparkling water instead of soda with sugar or other additives. In fact, the domestic sparkling water market, which was only worth 3 billion won in 2010, is growing to 92 billion won as of 2019.

The word 'carbonated' in sparkling water means 'acidic'. Based on the acidity of the solution, the pH* of carbonated water on the market is said to be about 4~5. Carbonated drinks such as cola and cider have a pH of 2.5~3.5, which is lower than carbonated water. It is true that the acidity of sparkling water is better than that of soda.

*pH: A unit used to measure the acidity of a solution. The lower it is, the higher the acidity.

By the way, you've probably heard the saying "drinking a lot of cola will cause your teeth to rot", but is sparkling water really safe for your dental health? Studies have shown that enamel, the outermost component of teeth, decays when exposed to a pH of 5.5 or lower. Carbonated water has a pH of 4~5, so it can be considered harmful enough for teeth. In addition, in the case of composite resin, which is the most representative of dental restoration materials, its hardness may weaken when exposed to acidity for a long time.

How to drink sparkling water healthily

So, how do you recommend drinking sparkling water? In order to protect your teeth as much as possible while drinking sparkling water, it's best to use a simple straw first to avoid direct contact with your teeth. After drinking sparkling water, be sure to rinse your mouth with water.

Also, avoid lemon flavor, lime flavor, and sugar, which are added to carbonated water to add flavor or flavor, because they contain organic acids, so they are not good for your dental health, but if you do not drink sparkling water alone, but if you eat it with your meal, you can protect your teeth a little more from carbonated water. If you add ice to your sparkling water, the ice will neutralize the acidity to some extent.

How to brush your teeth after drinking sparkling water

Ever since we were kids, we've heard a lot of stereotypes that we should brush our teeth within three minutes of eating and drinking. Brushing your teeth immediately after drinking soda or soda can actually damage your teeth even more.

The acidic content of sparkling water slightly corrodes your teeth, and the abrasives in the toothpaste and the toothbrush can scratch your teeth. In addition, our saliva contains a substance called bicarbonate ions, which neutralize the acidity of carbonated water while it remains in the mouth.

Therefore, it is better not to brush your teeth immediately after consuming carbonated water, but to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water and then take a while to brush your teeth. Research suggests that you wait at least 30 minutes ~ 1 hour before brushing your teeth.

That's a quick look at sparkling water and dental health. As with all foods and drinks, it's important to drink sparkling water in moderation. Also, at the very least, you should know how food and drink affect your body.