{
  "id": 26103,
  "title": "Scientists reveal what sparkling water really does to your teeth",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/07/27/scientists-reveal-what-sparkling-water-really-does-to-your-teeth",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-07-27T12:52:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ScienceDaily Health",
    "slug": "sciencedaily-health",
    "url": "https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/07/260727012126.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study suggests that unsweetened sparkling water may be less harmful to teeth than sugary soda, according to researchers at Purdue University. Tooth enamel can start to dissolve when the mouth's pH falls below 5.5. The research found that while sparkling water can cause a temporary drop in oral pH, the effect is less severe than that caused by soda.\n\nLead author Wajiha Zulfiqar, a graduate student in Nutrition Science, presented the findings at NUTRITION 2026, the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting. Previous research has shown that sugar-sweetened soda can lead to dental erosion by pushing mouth pH below 5.5. However, there is limited knowledge about how unsweetened sparkling water affects mouth acidity.\n\nTo examine this, the researchers tested sugar-sweetened soda, regular sparkling water, calcium-fortified sparkling water, and plain water in 20 adults. Each participant consumed all four beverages, allowing the team to account for individual variations. The study measured salivary pH, a more realistic indicator of oral acidity compared to simply testing beverage acidity.\n\nThe results showed that soda produced the most significant increase in mouth acidity compared to the other drinks. Salivary pH dropped significantly after consuming soda within 2 minutes and 20 minutes. Regular unsweetened sparkling water caused a temporary pH decrease after 2 minutes, while calcium-fortified sparkling water had a decrease after 5 minutes. However, both types of sparkling water restored salivary pH to near its original level within 20 minutes.\n\nZulfiqar emphasized that the study measured only short-term changes in salivary pH. The actual risk of dental erosion depends on factors such as how often and how long someone drinks a beverage, as well as sugar content. The researchers suggest that replacing sugary soda with unsweetened sparkling water could help lower the risk of enamel erosion. They also propose that the beverage industry explore reformulation strategies to reduce the erosive potential of acidic drinks. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of sparkling water on oral health.",
  "summary": "Unsweetened sparkling water may offer a tooth-friendlier alternative to sugary soda, according to a small preliminary study tracking how different drinks change mouth acidity. Soda caused the strongest and longest drop in salivary pH, while sparkling water produced only a temporary decline before saliva restored normal conditions. Importantly, acidity remained above the level associated with…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}