Analysis of the erosive effect of different dietary substances and medications

Br J Nutr. 2012 Jan;107(2):252-62. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511002820. Epub 2011 Jun 30.

Abstract

Excessive consumption of acidic drinks and foods contributes to tooth erosion. The aims of the present in vitro study were twofold: (1) to assess the erosive potential of different dietary substances and medications; (2) to determine the chemical properties with an impact on the erosive potential. We selected sixty agents: soft drinks, an energy drink, sports drinks, alcoholic drinks, juice, fruit, mineral water, yogurt, tea, coffee, salad dressing and medications. The erosive potential of the tested agents was quantified as the changes in surface hardness (ΔSH) of enamel specimens within the first 2 min (ΔSH2-0 = SH2 min - SHbaseline) and the second 2 min exposure (ΔSH4-2 = SH4 min - SH2 min). To characterise these agents, various chemical properties, e.g. pH, concentrations of Ca, Pi and F, titratable acidity to pH 7·0 and buffering capacity at the original pH value (β), as well as degree of saturation (pK - pI) with respect to hydroxyapatite (HAP) and fluorapatite (FAP), were determined. Erosive challenge caused a statistically significant reduction in SH for all agents except for coffee, some medications and alcoholic drinks, and non-flavoured mineral waters, teas and yogurts (P < 0·01). By multiple linear regression analysis, 52 % of the variation in ΔSH after 2 min and 61 % after 4 min immersion were explained by pH, β and concentrations of F and Ca (P < 0·05). pH was the variable with the highest impact in multiple regression and bivariate correlation analyses. Furthermore, a high bivariate correlation was also obtained between (pK - pI)HAP, (pK - pI)FAP and ΔSH.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Apatites / analysis
  • Beverages / adverse effects*
  • Beverages / analysis
  • Bicuspid / chemistry
  • Bicuspid / drug effects
  • Calcium / analysis
  • Dental Enamel / chemistry*
  • Dental Enamel / drug effects*
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions*
  • Durapatite / analysis
  • Fluorine / analysis
  • Food / adverse effects*
  • Food Analysis
  • Hardness
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Immersion
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Kinetics
  • Linear Models
  • Surface Properties
  • Tooth Crown / chemistry
  • Tooth Crown / drug effects
  • Tooth Erosion / chemically induced
  • Tooth Erosion / etiology*

Substances

  • Apatites
  • Fluorine
  • Durapatite
  • fluorapatite
  • Calcium