If you enjoy drinking bottled water and avoid the faucet whenever you can, you might be doing more harm than good to your mouth. However, not all bottled water is bad for your oral health, and some can be beneficial.
To begin, you need to know what a pH level is and how it could impact your mouth. PH stands for how much acidity is in the water. A product with more acidity will have a pH level of 7 or less. You should avoid products with a pH level of 5.5 or less.
Your teeth are protected by enamel, which keeps plaque and other harmful substances off the surface of your teeth. When you consume something that has a pH level of 5.5 or less, you are eliminating that protective enamel and increasing your chances of harmful substances coming into direct contact with your teeth. Fluoride, a healthy ion, assists in protecting the surface of your teeth from decay.
So, what bottled waters are best to drink, and which ones are not as great?
Your mouth will say “Yes” to these bottled waters:
Poland Spring
Volvic
Fiji
Essentia
Evian
Nestle Pure Life
Arrowhead Spring Water
Naturally alkaline waters like Icelandic Glacial, Zephyrhills and Acqua Panna
What your mouth will say “No” to:
Smartwater
Aquafina
Voss
Dasani
How can I check to see if the bottled water I am drinking right now is not acidic? If you’re really concerned, you can buy yourself litmus paper or a pH meter to test the pH level. If you don’t have access to either one, you can always Google your water or choice or call the number listed on the label.
If you are still concerned about drinking water from your tap, you can use an American Dental Association-certified water filter. These filters will not remove fluoride from your tap that helps promote a healthy, clean gum line. But they will help filter out lead and other harmful substances.
Our favorite water faucet purifiers:
PUR Faucet Mouth Water Filter
PUR Maxion Pitcher/Dispenser Water Filter
PUR Maxion Pitcher/Dispenser Water Filter with Lead Reduction
So, now you know the exact brand to pick in order to promote a healthier grin the next time you walk down the grocery aisle shopping for bottled water. Still have questions? Give Dr. Mingus a call today.
