Soft drinks and dental erosion during pediatric age: a clinical investigation

BACKGROUND: Dental erosion is an irreversible condition of loss of teeth hard tissues caused by intrinsic or extrinsic acids attack, without bacterial involvement. Common soft drinks have an acid pH and they release hydrogen ions and act as chelating agents, dissolving teeth mineral component. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the consumption of soft drinks in children and the degree of dental erosion.METHODS: A questionnaire of 15 multiple choice questions was addressed to the parents of the 231 children needing different dental treatments. Responses were compared with the level of dental erosion of their child, that was clinically investigated using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index.RESULTS: About 26.8% of subjects fall into a high-risk category of dental erosion while 24.2% in a low risk level. So-cioeconomic status and oral hygiene habits are able to affect the degree of dental erosion. Toothpastes containing fluoride have not proved effective in preventing this phenomenon and no significant correlations were found between the type of toothbrush used and its frequency of use.CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to apply preventive measures such as information on the processes and causes of ero-sion, instruction about right home oral hygiene maneuvers and the possible use of specific products, to avoid the develop-ment of problems related to severe dental wear.