Erosive effects of common beverages on extracted premolar teeth.
BACKGROUND
Dental erosion is highly prevalent today, and acidic drinks are thought to be an important cause. The aim of the present investigation was to determine the erosive potential of a range of common beverages on extracted human teeth.


METHODS
The beverages were tested for their individual pHs using a pH meter. The clinical effects of the most erosive beverages were determined by the degree of etching and Vickers microhardness of enamel.


RESULTS
The results showed that many common beverages have pHs sufficiently low to cause enamel erosion. Lime juice concentrate (pH 2.1) had the lowest pH, followed by Coca-cola and Pepsi (both with pH 2.3) and Lucozade (pH 2.5). The erosive potential of these beverages was demonstrated by the deep etching of the enamel after five minutes. The Vickers Hardness of enamel was reduced by about 50 per cent in the case of lime juice (p < 0.001) and 24 per cent in the case of Coca-cola (p < 0.004). Addition of saliva to 50 per cent (v/v) of Coca-cola completely reversed the erosive effects on the enamel.


CONCLUSIONS
Although only a few of the beverages with the lowest pHs were tested, the present study showed that the most acidic drinks had the greatest erosive effects on enamel. While saliva was protective against erosion, relatively large volumes were required to neutralize the acidity.
Seow
W K
WK
School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane. k.seow@uq.edu.au
Thong
K M
KM
D000143:Acids / Q000009:adverse effects; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000473:pathology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D003747:Dental Enamel Solubility; D006244:Hardness / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D012463:Saliva / Q000502:physiology; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D014867:Water
D000143:Acids; D014867:Water