Is your love of sparkling water truly bad for you? We've got the answers.

Hello, you San Pellegrino guzzling reader, you.

Now that it’s summertime, and your feet have returned to their rightful home (hello, Havaianas thongs) you’ve probably heard a few whispers about your sparkling water obsession.

“It’s bad for your teeth,” your girlfriends say as you sit there guiltily with your glorified H20. “It messes with your tummy and the alignment of the stars!”

Well, it’s time to clear up these rumours once and for all, Fizzy Fiends. Let’s get the facts straight, so you fancy, cafe-cool slickers can sip in silence.

First of all, the belly stuff.

No, carbonated water is not detrimental to your digestive tract, anti-diet dietitian Christy Harrison told Refinery29.

A photo posted by ‘Mount Franklin’ Water (@mountfranklin) on Dec 1, 2016 at 7:59pm PST

“Carbonated water may have a beneficial effect on your stomach,” Harrison said, citing that a small study found that drinking sparkling water alleviated persistent indigestion and constipation issues.

While some people may experience gas or a stomach ache, this is very rare. Ultimately, Harrison advises to “trust your body” and do what feels right for you.

Now, let’s talk teeth.

While a 2002 study found that teeth exposure to carbonated water for 30 minutes led to decay, other studies have found that six consecutive five-minute exposures to mineral water had minimum impact on pearly whites.

Regardless, Harrison says, “we don’t hold [sparkling water] in our mouths for half an hour”, so your teeth should be A-OK as long as you’re not part of some weird, sparkling-water-related competition.

A photo posted by S.Pellegrino (@sanpellegrino_official) on Nov 16, 2016 at 3:47am PST

Another handy piece of information? Sparkling water is approximately 100 times gentler on your teeth than your favourite soft drink. (Woah, right?)

Ultimately, fizzy water is great for hydration – something a lot of us struggle with. Unless you feel that your habit is affecting your gut or dental health, don’t let your nosy girlfriends tell you it’s not healthy. Because it is.

So go forth and enjoy all the exxy Italian sparkly water in the world, friends! You have an expert’s permission.