Diet drinks – still cause erosion because of the acidity

Citation

(2004), "Diet drinks – still cause erosion because of the acidity", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 34 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2004.01734dab.012

Diet drinks – still cause erosion because of the acidity

British Dental Journal – Fizzy drinks are the major factor behind increasing tooth erosion among British teenagers, a study said.

Carbonated drinks increased the chances of a 12-year-old suffering tooth erosion by 59 per cent and for 14-year-olds the risk was 220 per cent, according to research published in the British Dental Journal. For those children who drank four or more glasses a day, the risk of erosion increased by 252 per cent for those aged 12 and a massive 513 per cent for 14-year-olds.

Dental erosion is caused by acidic substances, such as fizzy drinks, which wear down the enamel coating the teeth, while decay is caused by sugar reacting with bacteria in plaque.

Out of more than 1,000 teenagers surveyed, 76 per cent of 12-year-olds said that they drank fizzy drinks, rising to 92 per cent of 14-year-olds. For all age groups, more than 40 per cent said that they had three or more glasses of carbonated soda drinks per day.

Dr Peter Rock, Birmingham University, said: “This research identifies fizzy drinks as by far the biggest factor in causing dental erosion among teenagers”.

For further information contact: Stephanie M. Spiers, Chair, Milk for Schools, PO Box 412, Stafford ST17 9TF. Tel/Fax: 01785 248345; Web site: www.milkforschools.org.uk (Registered Charity 1064361).