Dental News - Drinking between meals may exacerbate dental erosion, study finds

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 22. February 2016

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BERGEN, Norway: Rising consumption of sugary and acidic drinks has been found to be a key factor in the development and progression of dental erosion among children and adolescents. However, new research from the University of Bergen (UiB) indicates that, in addition to the amount consumed daily, when and the way in which soft drinks are consumed affects progression of erosive wear.

In the study, a team of UiB researchers evaluated the progression of dental erosion over a period of four years in a group of 175 adolescents aged 13–14. The prevalence of dental caries, as well as gingival and plaque status, was assessed in a clinical examination. Information on lifestyle factors, such as the method of drinking, frequency of physical activity, screen-viewing habits, as well as types and frequency of intake of certain dietary items, was obtained via questionnaires. These items included water, all kinds of acidic soft drinks, milk, yogurt, sour milk, tea, coffee, sweets, sour sweets, chewing gum, ice cream, popsicles, biscuits, snacks, cheese, as well as dried and fresh fruits.

Over the four-year period, progression of dental erosion occurred in 35 per cent of the 2,566 tooth surfaces, and 32 per cent of the surfaces had deteriorated by one severity grade and 3 per cent by two grades. Overall, boys showed more severe erosion than did girls at the follow-up.

Dietary factors associated with greater progression of dental erosion included higher consumption of all drinks and sour candy, as well as drinks between meals, and lower intake of ordinary and sour milk, all of which are factors that have been shown to have a relationship with dental erosion in previous studies. Moreover, the habit of retaining acidic soft drinks in the mouth before swallowing was linked to higher progression of erosive wear.

According to the researchers, dental erosion was common in the study group, indicating a risk of severe erosive damage to permanent teeth even before adolescence. Dental health workers should therefore be made aware of this fact and regular screenings for erosion and recording of associated lifestyle factors should be performed, they concluded.

Dental erosion occurs when acid dissolves the hard tissue of the tooth. In its early stages, erosion strips away the surface layers of tooth enamel. If it progresses to an advanced stage, it can expose the soft pulp inside the tooth. In order to minimise the risk of tooth erosion and decay, experts recommend checking ingredients for acid additives, especially citric acid (ingredient number 330) and phosphoric acid (ingredient number 338).

The study, titled “A 4 year prospective longitudinal study of progression of dental erosion associated to lifestyle in 13–14 year-old Swedish adolescents”, was published online on 8 February in the Journal of Dentistry.

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