Laboratory Studies on the Dental Effects of Soft Drinks and Other Beverages• Sarah Story• Undergraduate in Pre-Dentistry• Biology Department• Tennessee Technological University• Cookeville, TN 38505• Date: March 1, 2006

Project Summary:Project Summary:

Problem: Problem: Which beverage has the most Which beverage has the most erosive effect on dental enamel?erosive effect on dental enamel?

The drinks I will be using:The drinks I will be using:

Introduction: A high percentage of people consume soft drinks that contain A high percentage of people consume soft drinks that contain

sugar or artificial sweeteners, flavorings, and various additives. The sugar or artificial sweeteners, flavorings, and various additives. The popularity of sports (energy) drinks is growing and this study popularity of sports (energy) drinks is growing and this study compares enamel dissolution in these and a variety of other beverages. compares enamel dissolution in these and a variety of other beverages. Enamel from extracted specimens were selected, weighed and Enamel from extracted specimens were selected, weighed and immersed in the selected beverages for a total of 7 days. The immersed in the selected beverages for a total of 7 days. The specimens were weighed at specific intervals throughout the specimens were weighed at specific intervals throughout the immersion period with the solutions being changed daily.immersion period with the solutions being changed daily.

Enamel dissolution occurred in all of the tested beverages, Enamel dissolution occurred in all of the tested beverages, with far greater attack occurring in flavored and energy (sports) drinks with far greater attack occurring in flavored and energy (sports) drinks than previously noted for water and cola drinks. Non-cola drinks, than previously noted for water and cola drinks. Non-cola drinks, commercial lemonades, and energy sports drinks showed the most commercial lemonades, and energy sports drinks showed the most aggressive dissolution effect on the dental enamel. Reduced residence aggressive dissolution effect on the dental enamel. Reduced residence times of beverages in the mouth by salivary clearance or rinsing would times of beverages in the mouth by salivary clearance or rinsing would appear to be beneficial. (Von Fraunhofer, 2005)appear to be beneficial. (Von Fraunhofer, 2005)

Keywords:Keywords:

Dental ErosionDental Erosion Dental EnamelDental Enamel Dental HealthDental Health Soft DrinksSoft Drinks Sports DrinksSports Drinks Energy DrinksEnergy Drinks Non-Cola Drinks. Non-Cola Drinks.

Continued…Continued…

Objective:Objective: The objective of my study is to The objective of my study is to determine which beverage has the most erosive determine which beverage has the most erosive effect on dental enamel.effect on dental enamel.

Hypothesis:Hypothesis: In meeting my objective, I will test In meeting my objective, I will test my hypothesis that non-cola and energy drinks my hypothesis that non-cola and energy drinks will have the most erosive effect on dental will have the most erosive effect on dental enamel.enamel.

Null Hypothesis:Null Hypothesis: In meeting my objective, I will In meeting my objective, I will test the hypothesis that the erosion on the test the hypothesis that the erosion on the enamel will be the same for all beverages enamel will be the same for all beverages tested.tested.

Methods and Materials

• The test teeth are sound (caries free) human molars and premolars that had been extracted for orthodontic or periodontal reasons. After sterilization in an autoclave each specimen will be dried and weighed to 0.01 mg. All studies will be preformed at room temperature.

• The test beverages and test specimens will be placed in plastic containers with 5 mL of the test beverage. The specimens will be allowed to soak in the test beverage for 60 minutes each and then allowed to dry until for 24 hours and then weighed. This process will be preformed over 24 hour intervals for a 7 day (168 hour) period. The beverages for each specimen will be replaced daily with fresh solution after each weighing. Mean percentage weight losses and weight losses per unit area will be calculated for each set if enamel specimens.

Data FormData Form

For a Two Week PeriodFor a Two Week Period

Expected Benefits and Expected Benefits and ResultsResults

• For this experiment, I expect that all the For this experiment, I expect that all the beverages will have a significant impact on beverages will have a significant impact on dental erosion. I believe that the non-cola and dental erosion. I believe that the non-cola and sports drinks will have the greatest effect on sports drinks will have the greatest effect on enamel in the tested specimens.enamel in the tested specimens.

• One of the benefits that this research One of the benefits that this research offers is to increase public awareness on the offers is to increase public awareness on the effects of certain beverages in regard to dental effects of certain beverages in regard to dental erosion. With this information people may take erosion. With this information people may take their dental health into better consideration.their dental health into better consideration.

Project TimelineProject Timeline

Over the course of the Over the course of the semestersemester

Literature Cited• Al-Dlaigan, Y.H., L. Shaw, and A. Smith. 2001. Dental Erosion in a group of British 14-year-old school children Part

II: Influence of Dietary Intake. British Dental Journal. 190: 258-261. No. 5.• Dawes, Colin. December 2003. What Is the Critical pH and Why Does a Tooth Dissolve in Acid. Journal of the

Canadian Dental Association 69: 722-724 No.11.• Edwards, M., S.L. Creanor, R.H. Foye, W.H. Gilmour. 1999. Buffering capacities of soft drinks: the potential

influence of dental erosion. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 26: 923-927.• Grenby, T.H., A. Phillips, T. Desai, and M. Mistry. 1989. Laboratory studies of the dental properties of soft drinks.

British Journal of Nutrition 62: 451-464• Mathew, Tanya, Paul S. Casamassimo, and John R. Hayes. 2002. Relationship between Sports Drinks and Dental

Erosion in 304 University Athletes in Columbis, Ohio, USA. Caries Research 36: 281-287.• Oginni, Adeleke O., Elugwaraonu A. Agbakwuru, and Dennis A. Ndububa. 2005. The Prevalence of dental erosion in

Nigerian patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease. BMC Oral Health 5: 1.• Shipley, Samantha, Kelly Taylor, and William Mitchell. 2004. Identifying causes of dental erosion. General Dentistry

January/February: 73-75.• Sirimaharaj, V., L. Brearley Messer, and M.V. Morgan. 2002. Acidic diet and dental erosion among athletes.

Australian Dental Journal 47:(3): 228-236.• Von Fraunhofer, Anthony J., Matthew M. Rogers. 2005. Effects of sports drinks and other beverages on dental enamel.

General Dentistry January/February: 28-31.• Von Fraunhofer, Anthony J., Matthew M. Rogers. 2004. Dissolution of dental enamel in soft drinks. General Dentistry

July/August: 308-312.• Yip, Kevin H-K., Roger J. Smales, and John. A. Kaidonis. 2003. The diagnosis and control of extrinsic acid erosion of

tooth substance. General Dentistry July/August: 350-353.

Proposed Budget for One Proposed Budget for One YearYear

Category Salaries & WagesCategory Salaries & Wages First Year Second YearFirst Year Second Year Professional…………………$ 60,000 $ 60,000Professional…………………$ 60,000 $ 60,000 Technician…………………..$ 35,000 $ 35,000Technician…………………..$ 35,000 $ 35,000 Secretarial…………………...$ 25,000 $ 25,000Secretarial…………………...$ 25,000 $ 25,000 Graduate Student(2…………$ 9,600 $ 9,600Graduate Student(2…………$ 9,600 $ 9,600 Student Hourly……………...$ 8 $ 8Student Hourly……………...$ 8 $ 8 Subtotal……………………..Subtotal……………………..$ 139,200 $ 139,200$ 139,200 $ 139,200 Benefits………………..……$ 10,000 $ 10,000Benefits………………..……$ 10,000 $ 10,000 Travel……………………… $ 500 $ 500Travel……………………… $ 500 $ 500 Non-Expendables…………. $ 1,000 $ 1,000Non-Expendables…………. $ 1,000 $ 1,000 Expendables………………...$ 1,000 $ 1,000Expendables………………...$ 1,000 $ 1,000 Computer…………………...$ 1,000 $ 1,000Computer…………………...$ 1,000 $ 1,000 Supplies & Expenses………..$ 2,000 $ 2,000Supplies & Expenses………..$ 2,000 $ 2,000 Copying & Telephone...……. $ 500 $ 500Copying & Telephone...……. $ 500 $ 500 Tuition & Fees……………... $ 200 $ 200Tuition & Fees……………... $ 200 $ 200 Subtotal……………………. Subtotal……………………. $ 16,200 $ 16,200$ 16,200 $ 16,200 Total Direct Costs………… Total Direct Costs………… $139,200 $ 139,200$139,200 $ 139,200 Indirect Costs……………... Indirect Costs……………... $ 16,200 $ 16,200$ 16,200 $ 16,200 Total Costs…………………Total Costs…………………$ 155,400 $ 155,400$ 155,400 $ 155,400