Study shows sparkling water causes brief, mild acidity drop compared to soda

A small preliminary study examined how various beverages affect oral acidity, finding that unsweetened sparkling water may be a tooth‑friendlier alternative to sugary soda. Researchers measured changes in salivary pH after participants consumed each drink, noting that soda produced the most pronounced and prolonged decrease in pH, while sparkling water caused only a brief, modest dip before saliva quickly returned to baseline levels.

The study also reported that, even after consumption of soda, the salivary pH remained above the threshold commonly linked to enamel erosion, suggesting that neither beverage reached the critical acidity level for immediate enamel damage. Nonetheless, the comparatively milder and shorter‑lived acidity shift associated with sparkling water indicates it could pose a lower risk to dental health than sugary carbonated drinks.