Parents Warned of Dangers of Acidic Beverage

Parents Warned of Dangers of Acidic Beverages

Researchers are encouraging parents to sip on this finding: lifelong tooth damage is caused within the first 30 seconds of an acid attack. This warning, issued by scientists at the University of Adelaide in South Australia, is being delivered to parents worldwide, as myriad beverages—including soft drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks—contain high levels of acidity.

The team sought to assess the effect of short, repetitive erosive challenges to human enamel. Their findings, “Three-Dimensional Profilometric Assessment of Early Enamel Erosion Simulating Gastric Regurgitation,” were published online in July by the Journal of Dentistry.

In the study, researchers exposed human enamel to erosive challenges at pH levels of 1.5 and 3.0 in regurgitation-like conditions for 30 seconds, 60 seconds, and 120 seconds. After each acidic exposure, the enamel was evaluated to measure surface roughness and change. The data revealed that enamel exposed to 1.5 pH acidity levels demonstrated significant increases in surface roughness after just 30 seconds—with that measure increasing in proportion to exposure time. Subtle changes in enamel were observed when enamel was exposed to 3.0 pH acidity.

“Dental erosion is an issue of growing concern in developed countries, and it is often only detected clinically after extensive tooth wear has occurred,” reports Sarbin Ranjitkar, BDS, PhD, the paper’s corresponding author. “Our research shows that permanent damage to tooth enamel will occur within the first 30 seconds of high acidity coming into contact with the teeth. This is an important finding and suggests that such drinks are best avoided.”

To this end, the researchers underscored the need for early diagnosis and management of dental erosion. Parents can do their part in preventing irreversible tooth erosion by offering children water and milk, and minimizing intake of soft drinks, sports and energy drinks, juices, and other acidic beverages.

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

September 2014