Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism behind the different erosive potential of regular and light cola drinks: pH difference and/or aspartame presence.Material and MethodsSixty bovine enamel blocks were randomly divided into 5 groups: RC - regular cola, RCpH - addition of base to increase regular cola pH, RCAS - addition of aspartame to regular cola, LC - light cola, and LCpH - addition of acid to decrease light cola pH. Two-thirds of the blocks surface was coated with nail varnish for reference. The samples were daily subjected to four erosive challenges for 2 minutes. Between the erosive challenges (2h) and overnight the samples were maintained in artificial saliva. The response variable was the percentage surface hardness change (%SHC) after 1st experimental day and enamel surface loss (µm) measured at the 5th day by profilometry. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p<0.05).ResultsIndependently of the cola modifications, all groups promoted similar hardness change of enamel surface. RC promoted higher enamel loss (6.69±0.71µm) than LC (4.80±0.77µm). The acid addition to light cola (LCpH: 6.60±1.78µm) significantly enhanced its erosive potential, which did not differ from RC. The base addition to regular cola (RCpH-4.00±0.64µm) resulted in similar wear to LC. The addition of aspartame to the regular cola (RCAS 5.44±0.65µm) resulted in similar wear to LC and RC.ConclusionsThe data suggest that the pH alteration has a major impact on the erosive potential of cola drinks, however, the sweetener also has some influence. Key words:Tooth erosion, dental enamel, soft drinks, ph, sweetener.
Highlights
Nowadays, clinical evidences highlight tooth erosion as a relevant dental health imbalance
Previous in situ studies showed that immersion of enamel blocks in light cola resulted in less wear when compared to its immersion in regular cola [12,13]
Regular cola promoted significantly higher enamel loss when compared to light cola
Summary
Clinical evidences highlight tooth erosion as a relevant dental health imbalance. The knowledge of the chemical properties responsible for the less erosive potential of the light cola could generate insights to further modifications of erosive soft drinks. This in vitro study was designed to test these hypotheses by the modification of the pH of cola drinks and by the addition of aspartame. The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism behind the different erosive potential of regular and light cola drinks: pH difference and/or aspartame presence. Results: Independently of the cola modifications, all groups promoted similar hardness change of enamel surface. Conclusions: The data suggest that the pH alteration has a major impact on the erosive potential of cola drinks, the sweetener has some influence
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