Does Low Acid Orange Juice Equal Low Erosion?

Abstract

This paper compares the erosive potential of standard Tropicana smooth orange juice with a new low acid orange juice. Three parameters are compared in the laboratory; pH, neutralizable acidity and the ability to erode enamel. The pH of the standard orange juice is 3.88 compared with the low acid orange juice which has a pH of 4.18. The neutralizable acidity of the low acid juice is lower (16.96 ml of 0.1 M NaOH) than the standard juice (28.46 ml of 0.1 M NaOH). The low acid orange juice produces less enamel erosion (2.49 microm) than the standard juice (5.23 pm). Ideally, these laboratory findings need to be confirmed in a randomized controlled clinical trial before this product could be recommended unreservedly for patients that are clinically susceptible to erosion. As dietary advice forms a cornerstone in the clinical management of erosion, the introduction of a commercially available low acid orange is most welcome.