Put Down The Bottle, Seltzer Isn't As Good For You As You Think. Here's Why.
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Seltzer Can Weaken Tooth Enamel And Should Be Consumed Sparingly
http://aplus.com/a/is-seltzer-bad-for-your-health
Ariana Marini
At this point in your life, you've probably noticed that if you love something, like really, really love it, it's probably bad for you in some way. (OK, so we never actually thought bacon was good for us, but finding out it increases cancer risks was rough.)We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but if you reach for a seltzer any time you're thirsty, you may want to say goodbye to your SodaStream. Your teeth will thank you later.
Some people are under the impression that seltzer is as good for you as water. Recently Olga Khazan, a staff writer at The Atlantic, wanted to get to the bottom of this. So she did some digging and her findings have been trending this week.
It turns out, sparkling waters contain carbonic acid which can weaken tooth enamel over time. Flavored seltzers, especially citrus flavored ones, can be as bad for your teeth as sodas, according to a 2007 study conducted by the University of Birmingham and Birmingham Dental Hospital.
"Flavored sparkling water drinks should be regarded as potentially erosive, and preventive advice on their consumption should recognize them as acidic drinks rather than water with flavoring," the study concluded. "It would be inappropriate to consider these flavored sparkling waters as a healthy dental alternative to other acidic drinks, which are capable of contributing to erosion."
Uh oh.
In case you didn't know, your body cannot repair enamel once it's been damaged. It is, in fact, too late to say sorry at that point.
"My advice is to keep acidic drinks to meal times, and if you have to sip drinks between meals, then plain water is the safest," Damien Walmsley, a professor of dentistry at the University of Birmingham in England told the Atlantic.
Look, water is always going to be better for you than anything else, but you don't have to give up your seltzer habit completely. Stick to unflavored ones, drink them with food, and dilute them a little with regular water. It'll still be better for your health than drinking a regular soda with 44 grams of sugar.