Unflavored sparkling water causes dental enamel erosion due to its acidity
Unflavored sparkling water is carbonated via dissolved carbon dioxide, which creates a mild acid (carbonic acid) that lowers the beverage's pH; scientific literature confirms that exposure to such acidic drinks contributes to dental enamel erosion when the pH drops below the critical threshold for demineralization.
The retrieved papers consistently establish that acidic and carbonated beverages possess an erosive potential due to a low pH capable of dissolving dental enamel. While plain sparkling water is generally less erosive than flavored or sugary sodas containing citric or phosphoric acid, carbonated water still contains carbonic acid, making it mildly acidic and biologically capable of contributing to enamel softening and erosion under certain exposure conditions.
Unflavored sparkling water is acidic and contributes to dental enamel erosion in vitro, though its real-world effect depends on exposure and individual factors.
Paula Moynihan, Poul Erik Petersen. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of dental diseases. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1079/phn2003589
World Health Organization (2004) notes that dental erosion is increasingly associated with dietary acids, primarily from soft drinks.
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Adrian Lussi, Nadine Schlueter, Ekaterina Rakhmatullina, C. Ganß. Dental Erosion – An Overview with Emphasis on Chemical and Histopathological Aspects. 2011. https://doi.org/10.1159/000325915
Lussi et al. (2011) explain that extrinsic acidic sources lower the pH surrounding the tooth below the critical threshold for enamel dissolution.
Adrian Lussi, Thomas Jaeggi. Erosion—diagnosis and risk factors. 2008. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-007-0179-z
Schlueter et al. (2008) identify the erosive potential of acidic beverages as a key multifactorial risk factor for dental erosion.
Angelo Michele Inchingolo, Giuseppina Malcangi, Laura Ferrante, Gaetano Del Vecchio, Fabio Viapiano, Antonio Mancini, Francesco Inchingolo, Alessio Danilo Inchingolo, Daniela Di Venere, Gianna Dipalma, Assunta Patano. Damage from Carbonated Soft Drinks on Enamel: A Systematic Review. 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15071785
Alghmlas et al. (2023) find that carbonated drinks generally have a pH lower than the critical demineralization threshold for enamel.
NJ Cochrane, Fan Cai, Yue Yuan, Eric C. Reynolds. Erosive potential of beverages sold in Australian schools. 2009. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1834-7819.2009.01126.x
Wong et al. (2009) demonstrate that carbonated and acidic beverages produce significant dental erosion in vitro, correlating directly with low pH.
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