Salivary pH and Glucose after Consuming Various Beverages, Including Sugar-Containing Drinks

Abstract

Dental erosion is often seen on the lingual tooth surfaces. For this reason tongue pH after consuming orange juice, Coca-Cola (old and new formula), Coca-Cola Light, Jaffa orange beverage, Hart-Sport sport drink, coffee (with and without sugar), beer, sour milk, and strawberry yoghurt was studied in a test panel. The lowest pH values which also remained low for the longest time were observed after consuming Hart-Sport (pH down to 3.80), orange juice, yoghurt, Coca-Cola, and Jaffa, in comparison with coffee (pH down to 5.26), Coca-Cola Light, and beer (p < 0.001). The total glucose concentration in the products and in saliva after consuming them was measured in order to assess the clearance of the products from the mouth. Hart-Sport yielded the highest salivary glucose concentrations (14,000 ppm total glucose) immediately after consuming while yoghurt (4,520 ppm) and coffee with sugar (6,480 ppm) caused the least elevation (p < 0.05). All study products, however, were quickly cleared from the mouth and practically no glucose was left in saliva 30 min after ingestion. Since all the studied products caused lowering of tongue pH below pH 5.5, they have the potential to cause adverse effects on the teeth in patients with impaired salivary function. In the healthy subjects in this study, however, the buffering capacity in the mouth was so strong that not even tongue mucosa could be shown to keep low pH levels a couple of minutes after consumption.

In Vitro assessment of dentin erosion after immersion in acidic beverages: surface profile analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry study

“…Ehlen et al (2) also found no relationship between the pH of the beverages and the degree of erosion. Previous studies observed that erosive potential of a citric beverage is not only related to pH and concentration of citric acid, but also to the low degree of saturation in relation to both hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite (18), and the presence of cirate, a substance capable of chelating the calcium of saliva and teeth (19). These factors are important and can affect the erosive potential of a solution.…”

Diet, nutrition and the prevention of dental diseases

“…Fruit juices have also been shown to be more erosive than pulped fruits 184 . Citric, malic and tartaric acids are particularly erosive 185 and carbonic acid is the least erosive 46 . However, Meurman and Cate 21 argue that present data does not allow the ranking of different acids.…”

Dental erosion in a group of British 14-year-old school children Part II: Influence of dietary intake

“…14 Some in vitro experimental studies have clearly shown the potential erosivity of acidic drinks such as orange juice, cola and sport drinks. [15][16][17][18] There is growing evidence of a considerable increase in consumption of potentially erosive foodstuffs and drinks. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Continuing Surveys of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII) have indicated a dramatic increase in the consumption of soft drinks among US children and adolescents.…”