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Overview
Soda, apple juice and other acidic drinks can erode exposed root surfaces, according to research presented at the 2006 American Association of Dental Research meeting in Orlando. HealthDay News1 and WebMD2 featured this finding in recent online articles.
The new laboratory study, conducted by researchers from the University of Iowa, evaluated the erosive potential of five acidic beverages on enamel and root surfaces of extracted tooth samples. For this evaluation, the extracted teeth were coated with fingernail polish, and small “windows” (1 x 4 millimeters) of enamel or root surface were left exposed for microscopic analysis. The prepared tooth samples were submerged for 25 hours in one of five popular beverages—Gatorade®, Red Bull®, Coke®, Diet Coke® or apple juice—and then sectioned into thin slices to measure the erosion depth.
Although the study did not replicate real-life exposure to soft drinks (due to the length of time of exposure), it did report erosion to the root surfaces of the extracted tooth samples. Previous studies have found that acidic beverages can soften dental hard tissues (enamel), and similar dental erosion (based on level and extent of acidic exposure) would be expected for the thinner, more soluble root surfaces.
Dental erosion may be caused by intrinsic and extrinsic factors (e.g., environment, diet, medications), and the erosive process is not solely dependent on soft-drink consumption. While there is a growing body of evidence linking acidic food and drinks to dental erosion, biological modifying factors, such as low salivary flow, bulimia, acid reflux disease and other gastrointestinal conditions, can also affect tooth erosion. Saliva plays a protective role by diluting and neutralizing potentially erosive agents, especially the phosphoric and citric acids that contribute to the acidity of soda. In this way, saliva may serve as a natural defense to reduce exposure to the acids that can demineralize enamel and root surfaces.
Dentists are encouraged to monitor patients for observable tooth erosion and to educate parents, caregivers and children about the potential risks of prolonged acidic exposure to the dentition. Proper oral hygiene instruction should be offered to all patients for the promotion of good oral health. At-risk patients (e.g., individuals with bulimia, binge-eating disorders and related conditions) may require referral to physicians or appropriate health professionals for assessment, treatment and counseling.
Footnotes
1 Mundell EJ. Popular drinks eat away at tooth enamel. HealthDay News. May 12, 2006. Available at http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=532151  . Accessed March 10, 2006.
2 DeNoon D. Gatorade tough on teeth? WebMD. March 9, 2006. Available at: “http://www.webmd.com/content/Article/119/113482.htm?printing=true .”
Accessed March 15, 2006.
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Science in the News is a service by the American Dental Association (ADA) to present current information about science topics in the news. The ADA is a professional association of dentists committed to the public's oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement; leading a unified profession through initiatives in advocacy, education, research and the development of standards. As a science-based organization, the ADA's evaluation of the scientific evidence may change as more information becomes available. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Page Posted March 2006
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