Even if carbonated water is a little bit acidic, it shouldn’t have an effect on the dental enamel. Communicate with your doctor, view test results, schedule appointments and more. (Drinks with other flavors can contain other acids, Dr. Robles says, but the JADA study points to citric acid specifically as a big cause of enamel erosion.). Despite what you might read online , there is no strong scientific evidence to suggest that drinking sparkling water will make you feel fuller or curb your appetite. The concern that overconsumption of sparkling water could cause bone health issues—like increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis (weak bones)—seems to stem from research showing an association between cola consumption and low bone density in women, Abby Abelson, M.D., chair of the department of rheumatic and immunologic diseases and director of education at the Center for Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease at the Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF. It’s bad for your bones,” according to the Internet and people airing their unsolicited opinions. Beyond that, the ADA recommends drinking fluoridated tap water (if it’s available where you live) in addition to sparkling water. Yes, the flavour you choose could make a difference. A lack of saliva plus drinking a lot of sparkling water (especially citrus flavors) may make the mouth an even more acidic environment, Dr. Robles explains. Much more research is necessary before we can go around recommending sparkling water for better digestion. Again, these may be superior to regular soda, but more studies need to be done on these sweeteners. However, the ADA notes, no research to date has found solid evidence that drinking normal amounts of sparkling water is more harmful to enamel (the hard, outer surface of your teeth) than drinking regular water. Watch out for products that include additives or sweeteners. Sparkling water can be a great calorie- and sugar-free alternative to soda, but there may be a few reasons to drink it in moderation. Do a club soda or a sparkling water with no added sugar instead. Carbonated water is a healthier alternative to soda, juice or sports drinks like Gatorade. If you notice excessive gas while drinking sparkling water, your best bet is to switch to plain water. If you’re feeling hungry, it may just mean you’re dehydrated, because your body can’t tell the difference. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should guzzle sparkling water all day, every day. See All Health Care Professionals Information, Free prenatal classes prepare parents for their new baby, Fall and winter allergies: what patients should know, SIDS prevention and safe sleep for infants: What you need to know, When to go to the emergency room vs an urgent care clinic, How to safely celebrate holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniel Johnson, MD, speaks about COVID-19 prevention for kids at Illinois governor's press conference, Celebrating Halloween during the COVID-19 pandemic, How to stay safe on Election Day when you’re voting during a pandemic. Digestion. Often the bland taste of sparkling water can be repelling, but the way it hydrates your skin makes it an inevitable part of your health care regime. So, yes, swapping out dairy or fortified plant milk for sparkling water without making sure you’re getting enough calcium and vitamin D elsewhere could potentially heighten your risk of deficiencies and related bone health issues, Dr. Abelson explains. Acid reflux means that the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus is weak enough to allow stomach contents to reverse course, causing symptoms like heartburn, according to the Mayo Clinic. That extra hydration comes with a few notable health benefits: Staying hydrated is key to losing weight. Sign up for our Newsletter Enter your email. Welcome to Glamour UK. More studies are needed on the impact on people with acid reflux, GERD and heartburn, because sugar can really impact GERD. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. There are machines people can buy that add carbonation to water. Sparkling water is just as hydrating as still water. In practice, that could look something like forgoing regular water to exclusively drink a ton of citrus-flavoured sparkling water. If you don’t like plain water, sparkling water is a good alternative to sugary sodas and fruit juices. “Theoretically, it can reduce the pH in the stomach, which can help in the initial digestive process” by promoting muscle contractions that move food, Dr. Chowdhry says. Probably not. The one major exception is people who have dry mouth, which happens due to impaired saliva production that can be caused by medical issues like diabetes, lifestyle factors like snoring, and a number of medications, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners, which can add calories, harm teeth, and trigger some health conditions. View coronavirus information, resources and services available for employees. In some studies, carbonated water improved satiety, or the feeling of fullness. More studies need to be performed. Dairy milk contains high levels of calcium and vitamin D, which promote bone growth and strength and help prevent osteoporosis in older adults, according to the NIH. With video visits, you can talk with your doctor and receive the same personalized care, expert answers and a care plan tailored to you. Using straws to drink carbonated water also can increase gas and bloating. © 2020 The University of Chicago Medical Center. If you have dry mouth, love sparkling water, and worry it’s exacerbating your symptoms, check in with your dentist for guidance. Carolyn L. Todd. Just as there are claims that say you could hurt your teeth if you drink sparkling water everyday, so too do some folks believe that it actually dehydrates you if you drink it daily. Drinking carbonated mineral water may cause some tooth erosion, but not to the same extent as sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas. A lot of famous television personalities also swear by this secret ingredient. “Sparkling water, per se, should not be harmful to teeth,” Augusto Robles, D.D.S., M.S., assistant professor and director of operative dentistry curriculum at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry, tells SELF. The healthiest type of sparkling water is unflavored and unsweetened. Being calorie and sugar-free and rich in mineral content, sparkling water is certainly a great choice. Drinking sparkling water can help stave off dehydration. (We mean sparkling water without sugar. If you struggle to drink regular water, sparkling water may be a good alternative. Is sparkling water bad for you in some way? Sparkling mineral water has calcium in it, which can improve bone health. Here, a few experts explain why. That could be a benefit for people who constantly feel hungry. This is especially likely if you consume sparkling water in large quantities and/or after eating a meal (when acid reflux is more likely anyway). But the majority of that CO2 gets released when you open the container—hence that delightful hiss-crack—so a smaller portion actually reaches the stomach, Saleem Chowdhry, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF. Subscription Request Successfully Submitted! Yes. Plus, people with GERD are generally advised to avoid acidic foods to manage their symptoms. For help with Ingalls Care Connection, call us at 1-708-915-4357 or email portalsupport@ingalls.org. Sparkling water provides true hydration, and it’s a much better option than drinking regular soda or even diet soda, which don’t provide adequate hydration. That includes those with acid reflux that is frequent or severe enough to qualify as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The water keeps you full for quite some time. There was a small animal study that found consuming only carbonated water caused an increase in ghrelin. Sparkling water provides true hydration, and it’s a much better option than drinking regular soda or even diet soda, which don’t provide adequate hydration. “As long as people are getting the recommended amounts [of calcium and vitamin D], they should be OK,” Dr. Abelson says. In 2016, the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) published a study analysing the pH levels of 379 drinks. All rights reserved. Improve It provides more hydration and far fewer calories than soda. For questions, or to speak with someone directly, please call 1-888-824-0200.