High Consumption Of Fruit Smoothies Could Cause Erosion Epidemic

Tue, 20 May 2008

Consuming fruit smoothies on a frequent basis could cause an "erosion epidemic", the British Dental Health Foundation (BDHF) has warned.

The health group has responded to last week’s claim that the fruit drinks could be twice as healthy as first thought, stating that the damage they could cause to teeth fair outweigh the associated benefits, such as aiding the consumption of fruit .

BDHF chief executive Dr Nigel Carter stressed the issue of the healthiness of fruit smoothies "is very important and one that often gets overlooked".

"Fruit smoothies are becoming increasingly popular and the fruit content can make them seem like a good idea," he said.

"However, the high concentration of sugar and acids means that they can do real damage to the teeth if sipped throughout the day."

"Every time you sip on a fruit smoothie, your teeth are placed under acid attack for up to an hour, so constantly sipping on these drinks can cause the protective enamel to erode, causing pain and sensitivity. It can also lead to decay ."

"This is a particular risk for children," he continued. "Parents often provide their child with fruit juice drinks thinking they are doing them good but, in reality, it is far better to keep them to mealtimes where possible."

The dental chief’s comments are backed by the results of this year’s National Dental Survey, carried out by the BDHF and Oral B, which found that more than 30 per cent of Brits believe that fruit smoothies are actually good for the teeth .
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