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Dental erosion resulting from chewable vitamin C tablets
Journal of the American Dental Association (1939)
|August 1, 1983
Summary
Chewing vitamin C tablets daily for three years caused severe dental erosion in a patient. This highlights the acidic nature of vitamin C and its potential to harm tooth enamel.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Dental erosion is a multifactorial condition affecting tooth structure.
- The role of dietary acids in dental erosion is a significant concern in oral health.
Observation:
- A patient presented with severe dental erosion after three years of daily vitamin C tablet consumption.
- Vitamin C tablets were found to be highly acidic.
- A solution prepared from vitamin C tablets demonstrated enamel demineralization in laboratory tests.
Findings:
- The patient's severe dental erosion was directly linked to the acidic properties of chewed vitamin C tablets.
- Acidic vitamin C solutions can cause significant demineralization of tooth enamel.
- The study reviews various causes and patterns of dental erosion.
Implications:
- Patients should be aware of the erosive potential of acidic supplements, even those perceived as healthy.
- Dental professionals should consider dietary habits, including supplement use, when diagnosing and treating dental erosion.
- Further research into the long-term effects of frequent consumption of acidic supplements is warranted.