What do you need to know about seltzer, soda, and your teeth? The beverages you drink could put your healthy mouth at risk. Before you buy another bubbly, sweet, carbonated bottle, take a look at the top questions patients have about their choice of beverages, potential dental damage, and when to visit the family or cosmetic dentist.

Can Water Damage Your Teeth?

The answer to this question depends on what type of water you drink. Tap water can improve your dental health. Unlike bottled or canned products, tap water contains fluoride. Fluoridated tap water can decrease dental caries by 25 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Not only does fluoridated water make it less likely that you will get a cavity, but it can also reduce the severity of cavities (if you do have some dental decay). This decreases the need for fillings and other types of dental restorations. 

Even though tap water (with added fluoride) can strengthen your teeth, bottled and seltzer water products won't have the same effect. Carbonated seltzer and sparkling water are acidic beverages. The high acid level in these drinks can weaken or wear away dental enamel. This creates holes in the outermost hard covering of the tooth and exposes the yellowish dentin underneath. The results of enamel erosion are discoloration, sensitivity, and dental caries.

Can Soda Damage Your Teeth?

Like carbonated seltzer and sparkling water, soda or pop products are also acidic and can damage your teeth. These beverages include canned, bottled, fountain, caffeinated, and noncaffeinated drinks in a variety of flavors. 

Along with acid-induced enamel erosion, some types of soda contain added sugar. Over time the sugars from soda can stick to your teeth, causing plaque and hard tartar to build up. The sugar in these beverages feed the bacteria in your mouth. This results in acid production and can add to enamel erosion and increase the risks of dental decay. 

How Can A Dentist Help?

The best way to prevent cavities is to limit or eliminate acidic and sugary beverages from your diet and replace them with tap water and calcium-containing milk. But if you already have damage or decay from these types of drinks, you need to visit a family or cosmetic dentist. If your child has seltzer or soda-related damage, schedule an appointment with the pediatric dentist—even if the decay or erosion only affects their baby teeth. 

The dentist will examine your teeth and look for enamel erosion or existing cavities. Dental bonding, crowns, and other similar tooth-colored restorations can repair some types of enamel erosion or decay. A cosmetic professional can eliminate yellowing and restore your mouth's aesthetic. Cavities require the dentist to drill and fill the tooth. This process removes the decay and protects the tooth against future infection. After the dentist repairs or restores the affected teeth, limit your acidic/sugary beverage intake to reduce the risks of repeat dental damage.