Erosive effect of industrialized fruit juices exposure in enamel and dentine substrates: An in vitro study

Erosive tooth wear has been a highly prevalent and emerging phenomenon related to eating habits of the population. Aim: This study sought to investigate industrialized fruit juices exposure in enamel and dentine substrates in terms of erosive effect.

Human enamel and dentine specimens were randomized into 8 groups (n=8): Grape juice - Ades®, Grape juice - Del Valle Kapo®, Grape juice - Aurora®, Orange juice - Del Valle Kapo®, Orange juice - Ades®, Strawberry juice - Mais Vita®, Strawberry juice - Ades®, Citrus fruit juice - Tampico®. Specimens were submitted to an in vitro erosive challenge and to a microhardness test to evaluate the percentage of surface microhardness loss. The pH, titratable acidity, buffering capacity, degree of saturation and critical pH concerning hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite of the juices were measured as well as their composition of calcium, phosphate, fluoride, and total protein. Data were submitted to the analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression (α=0.05).

All test agents were undersaturated concerning hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite. A significant interaction between the type of juice and substrate was found (α=0.000, β=0.99). However, Orange juice - Del Valle Kapo®, Orange juice - Ades®, and Strawberry juice - Mais Vitta® demonstrated no difference between substrates. Grape juice - Ades® promoted less mineral than other juices in enamel and dentine. The calcium concentration in juices was a protective variable for microhardness loss in both substrates.

The erosive effect of industrialized fruit juices affects enamel differently from dentine, and this effect differed between some, but not all, tested juices. Key words:Tooth erosion, dental enamel, dentine. beverages, food habits.