Is Sparking Water Ok for Kids?

Delving into the topic of sparkling water and kids health. And reviewing of the current literature.

This is a question I get asked a lot by parents and have heard a lot of conflicting recommendations. The short and sweet answer is yes, you can give your kids sparkling water! The research on the topic indicates that there are no known health effects of drinking sparkling water.

One concern I get from parents is about how sparkling water impacts their child’s dental health. Specifically, the erosion of the enamel. Carbonated water is slightly acidic. The PH of water is between 6.5-8.5.  While carbonated water has a PH of 3-4. After looking through the research (or lack there of), the studies that have examined this  topic have not found any significant evidence that sparkling water, without added sugar,  increases risk for erosion of the enamel. While the research does show drinking carbonated beverages with added sugar does increase risk for dental decay. Research also indicates that the more times you introduce food or beverages, other than water, to your teeth the higher the risk of dental decay.

So to wrap it all up.. sparkling water is a perfectly fine beverage choice for kids. If you want to potentially help lower your child’s chances of tooth decay offer sparkling water (along with other beverages) at only meal or snack times. While water is a good option anytime of day!