You have probably heard from dentists like us that soda and sports drinks are bad for your teeth but do you know about the damaging effects of bottled water?
It is estimated that Americans drink up to 8.4 billion gallons of bottled water every year and it is easy to see why. For starters, most consider it a great alternative to soda and other soft drinks since it contains no sugar or calories. Bottled water is also popular because:
- It provides a convenient way to hydrate on the go.
- Most people consider it safer than tap water.
- Some people prefer the taste compared to other beverages.
While it is true that water is the healthiest drink for your teeth, not all water is created equal. It might surprise you to learn that bottled water may be just as harmful to your dental health as sugared or carbonated drinks. Here’s why.
pH Basics
Recent studies have shown that some popular brands of bottled water are predominantly acidic with a pH as low as 4.0. Thinking back to your chemistry class, you’ll remember that a pH of 7 is considered neutral. Anything with a pH above that is considered alkaline and those below it are considered acidic.
Since our teeth essentially bathe in whatever liquid we drink, continuously sipping bottled water throughout the day constantly exposes them to high levels of acidity. This in turn corrodes or breaks down your tooth enamel, making you more susceptible to cavities and tooth decay. Once cavities occur, the only help for your teeth is to get dental fillings.
You might be wondering how bottled water becomes acidic since water normally has a neutral pH of 7. The acidity is caused by the extreme filtration and oxidation processes bottling companies employ to treat water before bottling it. While this treatment is meant to make the water safe, it actually increases its acidity, making it harmful to our teeth.
Better Choices Lead To Healthy Teeth
The more we educate ourselves about the drinks and foods we consume, the better we can protect ourselves from cavities and tooth decay. In order to lower your risk of developing cavities, we advise you to carefully research the acidity of the bottled water brands you choose to drink. Alternatively, you can drink pH neutral water such as spring or tap water.
When you come in for your next appointment at Bridge Creek Dental, feel free to ask us any questions you have regarding water consumption and your teeth. We will be happy to address all your concerns.
Book an appointment today by calling us on (406) 652-1600 and let us help you improve your dental health.
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