Contrary to what you may have heard, drinking seltzer - plain carbonated water - does not harm your teeth.
What Exactly is Seltzer?
Seltzer is made by dissolving carbon dioxide in water. This is what gives seltzer its fizz and also creates carbonic acid. It is true that acid can harm teeth by softening the enamel and that's where this myth got its origin. But plain seltzer, without flavoring or sweeteners, is only very mildly acidic and according to dental experts poses no risk to your enamel.
Flavored Seltzer is Different!
Matters are different when it comes to flavored carbonated water. Flavored fizzy waters are much more acidic than plain seltzer. In fact the pH (a measure of acidity) can be as low as 2.7 compared to the range of five to six for plain seltzer. Lower pH means greater acidity, and because it is a logarithmic scale it means that flavored waters can be over 100 times as acidic as plain seltzer. When you add sugar to the mix as in sweet carbonated drinks, things become even worse. The sugar supports bacteria on the teeth which produce even more acid, further endangering the enamel. Many people think that flavored seltzer is innocuous because it contains no sugar. But that is not the case. Plain unflavored seltzer on the other hand is perfectly safe for your teeth.
