Enamel Dissolution Associated with Regular and Diet Energy Drinks
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to compare the difference in enamel dissolution between the regular and diet formulations of 3 brands of popular energy drinks. Sixty intact, unerupted third molars were used for testing. Initial weights were recorded for each tooth to 0.00 lg. All teeth were then painted with 2 layers of acrylic nail polish up to the cementoenamel junction. The teeth were weighed again to determine the weight of the acrylic and placed into 1 of the 6 test beverages: Red Bull, Red Bull Sugar Free, Monster, Monster Absolutely Zero, Rip It Tribute, and Rip It Tribute Sugar Free. Tooth specimens were submerged randomly in 50 mL of freshly opened energy drink daily, for a period of 5 days at room temperature. The teeth were dried and weighed after each day. The initial coated weights were subtracted from the coated weights after each day to detem1ine the percent of tooth weight lost. This difference is attributed to enamel erosion. The test beverages were also assessed for pH and titratable acidity. Monster Absolutely Zero was significantly more erosive than Rip It Tribute(p = 0.0106), with all other energy drinks being statistically similar. There was no difference in erosion between the regular and diet drinks (p > 0.05). A strong positive linear correlation was observed between titratable acidity and percent of tooth weight lost (r = 0.9584; p = 0.0026). Based on the results of this in-vitro study testing 3 most commonly utilized energy drinks in the Army, it can be concluded that there is no difference in the erosive potential between the pooled regular and diet formulations. Rip It Tribute caused the lowest mean percentage of tooth weight loss, but only significantly less than Monster Absolutely Zero. Also, the results of this study support earlier research in this area by suggesting that titratable acidity of beverages is more closely related to erosion by energy drinks than initial pH.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 09, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1063973
Entities
People
- Evan J Endsley
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences