Soft Drinks Blamed For High Levels Of Dental Erosion In Kids

Thu, 13 Mar 2008

A new US study has found nearly a third of children and teenagers are affected by dental erosion .

Research carried out by dental researcher Bennett Amaechi of the University of Texas, San Antonio, along with colleagues at Indiana University and the University of California at San Francisco, found a 30 per cent prevalence rate of dental erosion among the 900 Texas middle-school students examined.

Dental erosion is caused by acids found in carbonated soft drinks, some fruit juices, sports drinks and even herbal teas, the study highlighted.

"Because of the high acidity, when you drink it and keep it a little bit long in the mouth, it wears away the tooth surface and causes tooth wear," said Dr Amaechi.

"It is important for dental practitioners to identify dental erosion and its causes before it is too late."

Dr Amaechi added that the majority of patients are unaware that they are suffering from dental erosion as the condition "creates a smooth and shiny appearance of the enamel and causes no pain or sensitivity in its early stages".

"Therefore the responsibility of early detection and treatment falls to the professionals," he concluded.
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