Too much salt in the diet is linked to raised blood pressure, which can contribute to heart disease. You may be guzzling sparkling water as part of a health kick, but some fizzy mineral waters can contain significant quantities of salt (usually labelled as sodium - or its symbol Na). 'Rinsing your mouth with plain, uncarbonated water after drinking fizzy water (to remove any acidic residue) or chewing sugar-free chewing gum to stimulate saliva flow will help to speed this process up.' 'Also, wait at least 40 minutes after drinking fizzy water before brushing your teeth, to allow your saliva to remineralise and harden the enamel. 'It's also a good idea to drink sparkling water through a straw, to minimise contact with teeth,' she says. Sipping it regularly throughout the day doesn't give the saliva in your mouth a chance to neutralise the acid.'ДЇor the same reason, it's not a good idea to keep a glass of carbonated water on your bedside to sip through the night. 'To reduce the potential for acid erosion from sparkling water, I suggest people drink it only at meal times. 'Gradual erosion of the hard, protective tooth enamel by acidic foods and drinks can eventually leave the underlying, yellow dentine of the tooth exposed, resulting in pain and sensitivity,' says Elaine. It's a problem that can be exacerbated if you then add acidic slices of lemon or lime to your drink. 'Although the acidity of some sparkling waters can be balanced by their natural mineral content,' says Dental Hygienist Elaine Tilling, head of Clinical Education for oral hygiene specialist TePe, 'the pH of most fizzy waters can be low enough to soften tooth enamel and leave it vulnerable to damage, especially if you sip it frequently throughout the day.' It's so popular that we drank 300 million litres in the UK last year.Д«ut is it as good for us as we think? As some dental experts warn of its potential to erode teeth, we reveal the surprising ways it could be harming your health.Д¬arbon dioxide, the gas that is used to create the bubbles in sparkling water, also creates carbonic acid when it's dissolved in water, which is what gives sparkling water its refreshing, slightly tart taste. Sparkling water seems the perfect summer thirst quencher - a refreshing alternative to alcohol or fizzy, sugary drinks, and also just that little bit more interesting than tap water. Fizzy water can damage your teeth (file photo)

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