Is Flavoured Water Bad for Your Teeth?

In short, water should be your first choice for staying hydrated and protecting your teeth. But what about the huge assortment of flavoured water that is available on the market? Is it all just as good for you? The short answer is – in terms of dental health – no.

Water is an essential part of wellbeing and good hydration goes hand-in-hand with a healthy body. Health experts advise that we enjoy 6-8 glasses a day to stay hydrated.

In a world of huge consumer choice, however, there are plenty of other beverages vying for our attention, unfortunately many of these contain sugar. Labels can also be confusing, with terms like sugarfree and no added sugar often misunderstood by consumers.

With awareness continually rising about the empty calories of fizzy drinks, which pose a threat to dental health, more consumers are turning away from such obviously unhealthy choices. But flavoured water will often slip between the cracks and there is an assumption that this will always be good for your teeth.

Choosing sugar free? Watch out for fruit acids

When looking for a drink choice, be wary about opting for things like sugar free flavoured water. There are hidden nasties that could harm your oral health more than you realise.

Many health conscious shoppers opt for water-themed drinks in the belief that it is better for their health. Which, on the balance of things, they possibly are – but if you think you are making a decision that is good for your teeth, it might be wise to think again.

While flavoured water is often sugar-free, which is a good thing, it can be high in citric acid due to the flavourings used, particularly in the case of citrus fruits.

This can push the acidic levels of flavoured water up to as much as pH 3, when normal water sits between 6 and 8. The lower (0-7) the pH level of food or drink the more likely it is to cause acid enamel erosion to teeth.

The corrosion of the enamel surface of teeth can lead to tooth decay and, unfortunately, there is no way to repair enamel.

So, while the fact that flavoured water can be sugar-free is a bonus, you have to consider what it is being flavoured with and how acidic that is.

How you drink is also a factor

It’s not just what you drink but also how you drink it. Sipping your favourite flavoured water can also make this issue worse. While sipping plain tap water will have no effect on the teeth, sipping acidic, flavoured water throughout the day will spell trouble for tooth enamel.

It can also upset the acidity levels in your mouth, providing the ideal conditions for bacteria to thrive. If you are sipping flavoured water throughout the day, this could lead to tooth decay over time.

If you would like to enjoy flavoured water, you could try drinking through a straw as this will reduce the contact with your teeth. You should also rinse your mouth with plain water after finishing your drink, as this will help to wash away any acids.

A note on sparkling water

Sparkling water fares slightly better and is a reasonable alternative to fizzy drinks. The carbon dioxide that is used to carbonate water does make sparkling water slightly acidic so it is worth considering limiting it to meal times, but it is certainly better for your teeth than sugar-filled fizzy drinks.

Drinking plain sparkling water would be much better for your teeth than drinking fizzy drinks like Sprite or Cola. Enjoying your sparkling water through a straw would help to limit exposure to your teeth, reducing the risk of any adverse side effects.

As with all treats in life, moderation is key. If you are a fan of flavoured water, stick to drinking it at mealtimes so that that acidic effect is contained and the mouth has the chance to counter the effects in one go.

However, the best option is to make plain water your drink of choice. You could enjoy sparking water or flavoured water with your meal, and then switch to plain water between meals to help tackle tooth decay and enamel erosion.

How can your dentist help?

One of the side effects of enamel erosion is sensitive teeth. This happens when the nerves in your teeth are exposed to hot and cold due to gaps in your enamel. If you are concerned about sensitive teeth get in touch with Bhandal Dentistry.

We can apply fluoride sealing treatments to help close these gaps and remineralise the teeth. We can also look for small changes to your everyday habits that could have a big impact on your teeth and oral health.

Photograph credit:

unsplash-logoSteve Johnson