Research Highlights Sparkling Water as a Safer Alternative to Sugary Sodas for Dental Health
Recent research presented at the NUTRITION 2026 meeting by Wajiha Zulfiqar, a graduate student in Nutrition Science at Purdue University, suggests that unsweetened sparkling water may be a safer alternative to sugar-sweetened sodas in terms of dental health. The study compared the effects of various beverages on mouth acidity, a key factor in dental erosion. It was found that while both soda and sparkling water can lower oral pH, the effect of sparkling water is less severe and more temporary. The study involved 20 adults who consumed sugar-sweetened soda, regular sparkling water, calcium-fortified sparkling water, and plain water. The researchers measured salivary pH to assess how the mouth responded to each drink. The findings indicated that soda caused the most significant drop in pH, while sparkling water's impact was less pronounced and quickly neutralized by saliva. 
