Effect of different citrus sweets on the development of enamel erosion in vitro

The increased consumption of citrus sweets can contribute to the development of erosive tooth wear (ETW). OBJECTIVE: This in vitro study evaluated the erosive potential of citrus sweets on bovine enamel samples regarding the quantification of wear. METHODOLOGY: Ninety bovine crowns were prepared and samples were randomly distributed into 6 groups (n=15): 0.1% citric acid solution (pH 2.5); Coca-Cola (®) Soft Drink (pH 2.6); Fini (®) Diet (lactic and citric acid, pH 3.3); Fini (®) Jelly Kisses (lactic and citric acid, pH 3.5); Fini (®) Fruit Salad Bubblegum (maleic acid, pH 2.6); Fini (®) Regaliz Acid Tubes (maleic and citric acid, pH 3.1). Sweets were dissolved in the proportion of 40 g/250 mL of deionized water. Enamel samples were submitted to erosive challenges for 7 days (4 daily acid immersion cycles for 90 s each). Enamel wear was measured using contact profilometry (μm), and data (median values [interquartile range]) were submitted to Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn’s test (p<0.0001). RESULTS: All citrus sweets tested present a high erosive potential, Fini Diet (®) (2.4 [1.2]) and Fini Regaliz Tubs (®) (2.2 [0.5]) show the highest erosive potential, similar to 0.1% citric acid (2.3 [0.7]); Fini Regaliz Tubs (®) is more erosive than Coca-Cola (®) (1.4 [0.9]). CONCLUSION: The evaluated citrus sweets have great erosive potential and play a key role in the development of ETW.