Dental erosion is the surface loss of tooth
structure due to the action of acids without involvement of microorganisms.
Enamel exposed to
acid loses minerals from a layer extending a few
micrometres below the surface, a process known
as softening.
With time, as softening progresses
further into the enamel, dissolution in the most
superficial enamel will reach the point where this
layer of enamel is lost completely.
In vivo, erosion could, therefore, involve two types of enamel
wear: the direct removal of hard tissue by complete dissolution and the creation of a thin softened layer, which is vulnerable to subsequent
mechanical wear.
Although a multitude of factors seem to be involved in this process, the most
important factors are dietary acids
and intrinsic acids from the stomach.
Currently, the
increased consumption of acidic foods and soft
drinks is becoming an important factor in the development of erosive wear.
On the other hand,
the potential of dairy foods and drinks to protect
teeth against dental erosion has been documented.Gedalia et al
and Lewinstein et al
showed
the rehardening effects of cow’s milk and cheese
in situ following the softening of human enamel
with an acidic soft drink (cola drink), and other
studies have shown that milk and cheese rich in
calcium.
On the other hand, Kato, Sales-Peres
and Buzalaf,
and Kato et al
have studied the
role of iron in dental erosion, showing that this
element may play an important role in preventing
this alteration. Since liver is an important source
of iron and broccoli is a vegetable very rich in this
chemical element,
these foods would also have
an effect on dental erosion.
However, few studies
have investigated the preventive effect of foods
and drinks used before the erosive challenge.
Taking these considerations into account and
considering that liver/broccoli and milk/cheese
are foods rich in iron and calcium respectively,
this in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of
acidic challenge preceded by food consumption on
enamel erosion.
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