Dental erosion is a growing health problem linked to the exceptional increase in the consumption of soft drinks, fruit juices, and sport drinks in many countries including Bangladesh. Dental erosion is the chemical dissolution of the dental hard tissues by acids without the involvement of microorganisms. Hydrogen ions (H + ) from acidic solutions can replace the calcium ions (Ca 2+ ) of the enamel, consequently breaking the crystal structure of the enamel and initiating dental erosion. Erosive tooth wear can lead to severe impairment of esthetics along with loss of hardness and functionality. Sources of the erosive acidic challenges can be intrinsic (i.e., gastroesophaegal reflux disease) and/or extrinsic (i.e., exposure from acidic foods and beverages). Continuous intake of drinks or food with pH lower than the critical erosive pH of enamel (5.2-5.5) and root dentin (~6.7) are considered to be responsible for dental erosion. Drinks with low pH and high titratable acidity (TA) have more potential to dissolved enamel and root dentin; on the other hand, drinks with low degree of saturation can stimulate leaching of minerals. In Bangladesh, there is limited scientific information available to assess the potential of dental erosion of the commercially available beverages and drinking water. This research aims to characterize the dental erosion potential of soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit juices, and bottled drinking water available in Bangladesh by determining their pH, TA, calcium (Ca 2+ ), and phosphate (PO 4 3− ). The degrees of saturation of the selected samples were calculated from the experimental results of pH, calcium, and phosphate levels. Soft drinks were found to have high erosion potential followed by energy drinks, fruit juices, and bottled drinking water. Most of the beverages locally available were found highly acidic. Phosphate levels were high in black cola drinks. Total TA was highest for the energy drinks, and moderate for soft drinks and fruit juices. Fruit juices contained high level of calcium compared with other beverages. The degree of saturation was moderate for fruit juices, and very low for few of the soft drinks and most of the bottled drinking waters. This study will be useful as a reference line for the health professionals and regulatory authorities for quality control of the beverages and bottled drinking water available in the local market. ARTICLE HISTORY

Fruit ripening is a natural process in which a fruit goes through various physical and chemical changes and gradually becomes sweet, colored, soft, and palatable. Fruit ripening process can also be stimulated by applying artificial fruit ripening agents. Farmers and vendors often use artificial ripening agents to control the rate of fruit ripening. However, because of the potential health hazards related to the ripening agents, artificial fruit ripening process is highly debatable throughout the world. There are existing laws and guidelines to control artificial fruit ripening process. This article highlights the legal aspects of artificial fruit ripening and fruit adulteration throughout the world. Different laws and acts of both the developed and developing countries to control and prohibit artificial fruit ripening and adulteration using hazardous chemicals are discussed here. The technical and economic issues related to artificial fruit ripening are also addressed in this study. This article aims at developing awareness among government agencies, policymakers, farmers, vendors, and scientists, as since it will take collective participation of different stakeholders to address different aspects of artificial fruit ripening issues and to provide an effective solution.

Fruit ripening is a natural process in which a fruit goes through various physical and chemical changes and gradually becomes sweet, coloured, soft and palatable. However, this natural process can also be stimulated by using artificial fruit ripening agents. Farmers and vendors often use artificial ripening agents to control fruit ripening rate. However, because of the potential health hazard related to the ripening agents, artificial fruit ripening process is highly debateable throughout the world. There are existing laws and guidelines to control artificial fruit ripening process. This article deals with the legal aspects of artificial fruit ripening and fruit adulteration in Bangladesh. Different laws and acts to control and prohibit fruit ripening and adulteration using hazardous chemicals are discussed in detailed here. Laws from different developed and developing countries are also listed and discussed here. Furthermore, the technical and economic issues related to the artificial fruit ripening are addressed in this study. This article aims to develop awareness among different stakeholders since it will take the active participation of the government agencies, policymakers, farmers, vendors and scientists to address different aspects of artificial fruit ripening issues and to provide an effective solution.