Pretty much everyone I know drinks seltzer. I pour a glass after lunch, as an afternoon-pick-me-up. My coworker Lindsey weaned herself off a Coke addiction by switching to fruity San Pellegrino sparkling water. Another friend drinks soda water religiously at both casual bar nights and fancy dinners, regarding it as a chic upgrade from the still stuff. But apparently all us seltzer lovers aren't doing our teeth any favors. Yep, it turns out seltzer can be just as harmful as soda when it comes to wearing away tooth enamel. 

Soda water's beloved bubbles contain carbonic acid, and it can gradually deteriorate your teeth. For comparison, flat water contains a pH level of 7, which is completely neutral. A bottle of unflavored Perrier clocks in about 5.5, which is pretty acidic, the Atlantic reports. But it's the fruity flavors—especially citrus—that be even more harmful to your pearly whites, as they contain even more tooth-rotting acid.

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If you don't believe us, take a look at this 2007 study from the International Journal of Pediatric Dentistry, which exposed teeth to flavored sparkling water for just 30 minutes. The results show seltzer to be just as corrosive as orange juice, and the authors commented:  "It would be inappropriate to consider these flavored sparkling waters as a healthy dental alternative to other acidic drinks."

Before you freak out, take some advice from Damien Walmsley, a professor of dentistry at the University of Birmingham in England. "There is a theoretical risk of tooth erosion, but the drinks would have to be consumed over a long period of time. My advice is to keep acidic drinks to meal times, and if you have to sip drinks between meals, then plain water is the safest," he told the Atlantic. 

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There are other tactics to consider as well. The corrosive power of the acid is affected by how much acid and sugar you consume in your overall diet, as well how much fluoride you get from tap water and toothpaste. Andrew Swiatowicz, a dentist in Wilmington, Delaware, told the Atlantic that sugar-free beverages are not going to be a main cavity-causing factor for an average healthy person. "If you are at all concerned, you can always dilute the carbonated water with regular water," he said. "Or even just swish with regular water after."

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