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Effect of pH and titratable acidity on enamel and dentine erosion

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Abstract

Objectives

The relative effect of pH and titratable acidity on tooth erosion remains unclear. We determined the effect of both properties on in vivo salivary pH recovery and on enamel and dentine early erosion in situ.

Methods

Solutions simulating acidic beverages with different pHs (2.5 or 3.5) and titratable acidities (0, 25, or 100 mM citric acid) were tested. In an in vivo study (n = 20 participants), the salivary pH was determined before, during, and up to 2 min after exposure to the tested solutions. In situ, 12 participants exposed enamel and root dentine slabs to the tested solutions simulating a beverage consumption; early erosion was assessed by percentage of surface hardness loss (%SHL). Groups were compared by ANOVA (p < 0.05).

Results

Saliva pH was lower after exposure to solutions at pH 2.5, irrespective of titratable acidity; pH recovery took longer for solutions with higher titratable acidities, irrespective of their pHs. In situ, the highest %SHL was observed for the solution with lower pH and higher titratable acidities. The addition of citric acid increased the %SHL by 2.5–3 times in enamel, and at least 5 times in dentine.

Conclusions

Both pH and titratable acidity may play a role on the erosive potential of acidic beverages.

Clinical relevance

Acidic beverages with lower pHs promote erosion by an initial acid etching of the surface; those with a higher titratable acidity slow down the salivary pH recovery. Both properties contribute to the overall erosive potential.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the volunteers for their valuable participation. We also thank J.A. Ribeiro Junior and W. Viera Junior for technical assistance.

Funding

This study was partially supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP; 2010/00164–5) to ACSB and Institutional Program for Scientific Initiation Scholarships (PIBIC)/National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) to ECBP.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cariology Unit, Department Oral Rehabilitation, Faculty Health Sciences, University of Talca, Talca, Chile

    Constanza E. Fernández

  2. Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

    Ana Carolina S. Brandao, Eloá C. Bícego-Pereira, Altair A. Del Bel Cury & Jaime A. Cury

  3. Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, 1011 N. University Ave. Room 5223, MI, 48109-1078, Ann Arbor, USA

    Livia M. A. Tenuta

Authors
  1. Constanza E. Fernández
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  2. Ana Carolina S. Brandao
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  3. Eloá C. Bícego-Pereira
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  4. Altair A. Del Bel Cury
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  5. Jaime A. Cury
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  6. Livia M. A. Tenuta
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Contributions

LMAT, JAC, and AADBC designed the experiments. LMT, CEF, ACB, EBP, and AADBC performed the experiments. LMAT and CEF analyzed the data. CEF and LMAT drafted the manuscript. All authors revised and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Livia M. A. Tenuta.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Two independent studies (in vivo saliva pH, in situ erosion) were approved by the Piracicaba Dental School Research and Ethics Committee (protocols # 005/2009 and 119/2010).

Consent to participate

Informed consent, verbal and written, was obtained from all participants enrolled in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Fernández, C.E., Brandao, A.C.S., Bícego-Pereira, E.C. et al. Effect of pH and titratable acidity on enamel and dentine erosion. Clin Oral Invest 26, 5867–5873 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-022-04544-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-022-04544-4

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