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With the increasing
popularity of whitening one’s teeth, researchers
at the
Eastman Institute for Oral Health, part of
the University of Rochester Medical Center, set
out to learn if there are negative effects on
the tooth from using whitening products.
Eastman Institute’s
YanFang Ren, DDS, PhD, and his team
determined that the effects of 6 percent
hydrogen peroxide, the common ingredient in
professional and over-the-counter whitening
products, are insignificant compared to acidic
fruit juices. Orange juice markedly decreased
hardness and increased roughness of tooth
enamel.
Unlike ever before,
researchers were able to see extensive surface
detail thanks to a new focus-variation vertical
scanning microscope. “The acid is so strong that
the tooth is literally washed away,” said Ren,
whose findings were recently published in
Journal of Dentistry. “The orange juice
decreased enamel hardness by 84 percent.” No
significant change in hardness or surface enamel
was found from whitening.
Weakened and eroded enamel
may speed up the wear of the tooth and increase
the risk for tooth decay to quickly develop and
spread. “Most soft drinks, including sodas and
fruit juices, are acidic in nature,” Ren said.
“Our studies demonstrated that the orange juice,
as an example, can potentially cause significant
erosion of teeth.”
It’s long been known that
juice and sodas have high acid content, and can
negatively affect enamel hardness. “There are
also some studies that showed whitening can
affect the hardness of dental enamel, but until
now, nobody had compared the two,” Ren
explained. “This study allowed us to understand
the effect of whitening on enamel relative to
the effect of a daily dietary activity, such as
drinking juices.
“It’s potentially a very
serious problem for people who drink sodas and
fruit juices daily,” said Ren, who added that
dental researchers nationwide are increasingly
studying tooth erosion, and are investing
significant resources into possible preventions
and treatments. “We do not yet have an effective
tool to avert the erosive effects, although
there are early indications that higher levels
of fluoride may help slow down the erosion.”
A Texas-based company,
Beyond Dental and Health, sponsored the trial in
part by providing the 6 percent hydrogen
peroxide.
In the meantime, Ren
advises that consumers be aware of the acidic
nature of beverages, including sodas, fruit
juices, sports and energy drinks. The longer
teeth are in contact with the acidic drinks, the
more severe the erosion will be. People who sip
their drinks slowly over 20 minutes are more
likely to have tooth erosion than those who
finish a drink quickly. It’s also very important
to keep good oral hygiene practices, Ren added,
by brushing twice daily with fluoride
toothpaste, and see a dentist for a fluoride
treatment at least once a year if you are at
risk.
Eastman Institute for Oral Health is a world
leader in research and post-doctoral education
in general and pediatric dentistry,
orthodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, and
oral surgery. Patients are seen at many sites
throughout the Rochester community.
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