Effect of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate added to acidic beverages on enamel erosion in vitro

To investigate, in vitro, the effect on enamel erosion of the addition of 0.2% w/v casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) to four commercially-available soft drinks, two of which were carbonated.

Enamel specimens (n=27) were sectioned from sound extracted human third molar teeth and polished to a mirror finish. Exposed enamel windows of 1 mm2 were created by painting the surface with acid-resistant nail varnish. Four citric flavoured soft drinks (pH range 2.2 to 2.4) and distilled deionized water (DDW) were tested. Each drink was tested with and without 0.2% CPP-ACP w/v. The specimens were placed into 50 mL of solution at 37 °C for 30 minutes, rinsed and varnish removed. The samples were profiled with a white light profilometer and erosive depths recorded.

All soft drinks tested caused enamel erosion but adding 0.2% w/v CPP-ACP significantly reduced (p<.05) erosive depth in all test solutions in comparison with the solutions without CPP-ACP. The erosive depths for all solutions with 0.2% CPP-ACP did not differ significantly from those of DDW.

Adding CPP-ACP at 0.2% w/v significantly decreased the erosivity of all four soft drinks. The erosivity of the soft drinks with 0.2% CPP-ACP added did not differ significantly from that of distilled water.