# Does seltzer water rot your teeth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 1999, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116 "1999-10-20T20:48:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![catsclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@catsclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsclaw)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116/1 "1999-10-21T05:04:00Z")
I’ve managed to completely cut out soft drinks from my diet, but remain addicted to seltzer water. I drink 4 - 5 glasses a day. According to a friend of mine, the carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid when disolved in water (this is true – I found [http://www.nobel.se/laureates/chemistry-1931-press.html](http://www.nobel.se/laureates/chemistry-1931-press.html) which does state small amounts of carbonic acid are formed). What I don’t know is whether the amount of acid, given the quantity I’m drinking, is actually enough over time to damage teeth. Anyone got any thoughts on the subject? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 1999, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116/2 "1999-10-20T20:48:00Z")
I wasn’t qualified to answer this question until my dentist’s office called to reschedule my appointment and I had the opportunity to ask her this question! She (Dr. Lakhar) said this: “Carbonic acid does not rot teeth or wear away enamel. Sugar does. If the seltzer water contains sugar, you are at risk for tooth damage. Brush after drinking sugarry substances. Floss every morning and every night. And stop chewing your nails!” ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116/3 "1999-10-21T02:00:00Z")
If the carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid when disolved in water then that air you breathe out full of C02 mixing with spit would do the same thing, but it doesn’t, see? ---
**Author:** ![catsclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@catsclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsclaw)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116/4 "1999-10-21T14:22:00Z")
You don’t form carbonic acid when you breathe, because it only forms when carbon dioxide and water mix _under pressure_. Thus, there is some amount of acid in carbonated water – the question is how much? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116/5 "1999-10-21T15:23:00Z")
I thought the question was if the carbonic acid produced would damage your teeth. Maybe I need Alphagene’s glasses so I can see the screen. ---
**Author:** ![catsclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@catsclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsclaw)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116/6 "1999-10-21T15:50:00Z")
Well, OK. To be fair the chain of questions is: 1. Does the carbon dioxide form carbonic acid when dissolved in a soda can. I’m convinced the answer to this is yes. 2. What amount of carbonic acid is produced, and remains after the can is opened and the pressure is released at least long enough to come into contact with your teeth? 3. Is the amount of acid in #2 sufficient to cause damage to teeth, given an application of 3-4 times a day? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116/7 "1999-10-21T16:15:00Z")
The answer to #3 is no. See my first response. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![falcon2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dbc845/32.png) [@falcon2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/falcon2)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 1999, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116/8 "1999-10-22T05:29:00Z")
> [@](#): > > The hard, outside covering of your teeth is called enamel. Enamel is > very hard, mainly because it contains durable mineral salts, like > calcium. Mineral salts in your saliva help add to the hardness of your > teeth. Mineral salts, however, are prone to attack by acids. Acid causes > them to breakdown Of couse real soft drinks are triple threat, because they contain phoshate and caffeine which cause calcium loss and which sugar which causes tooth decay. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 1999, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-seltzer-water-rot-your-teeth/4116/9 "1999-10-21T18:20:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe I need Alphagene’s glasses… Real cute, Mel. Next time you see Dr. Lakhar, I hope her saliva suction thingie gets permanently stuck under your tongue. 😛 * * * Back off, man. I’m a scientist.