Mineral Water Keeps Teeth Healthy

Two glasses of bottled mineral water a day could protect children’s teeth against erosion, according to a study at the University of Dundee in Scotland. The study examined the eating, drinking and brushing habits of 250 schoolchildren aged between 11- and 13-years-old and compared them with the level of dental erosion over an 18-month period.

Results showed mineral water reduces damage even if children still consume as many fizzy drinks as their friends. Researchers believe minerals in the water could help shield tooth enamel from destruction by acids that accumulate in the mouth.

In a comparison of 16 different factors thought to influence the destruction of tooth enamel, the researchers discovered that only sparkling mineral water and brushing with fluoride toothpaste provided protection to teeth.

Dental erosion affects up to 50 percent of adolescents in the UK alone. The tooth becomes sensitive as the surface is stripped away, eventually exposing the dentine, the core of the tooth.