Sugar-Free Drinks are Bad News for Teeth, Say Dentists
07 Dec 2015 --- Scientists at the University of Melbourne’s Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre have warned about the damage sugar-free drinks can do to tooth enamel. Researchers in the Centre tested 23 different types of drink, including soft drinks and sports drinks, and found drinks that contain acidic additives and with low pH levels cause measurable damage to dental enamel, even if the drink is sugar-free. “Many people are not aware that while reducing your sugar intake does reduce your risk of dental decay, the chemical mix of acids in some foods and drinks can cause the equally damaging condition of dental erosion,” Melbourne Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds, CEO of the Oral Health CRC, said. “Dental erosion occurs when acid dissolves the hard tissues of the tooth. In its early stages erosion strips away the surface layers of tooth enamel. If it progresses to an advanced stage it can expose the soft pulp inside the tooth.” Early dental erosion can usually be reversed by oral health professionals with treatments to replace lost minerals. In more advanced cases, the lost surface of a tooth may need a filling or crown. Studies in the Oral Health CRC measured dental enamel softening and tooth surface loss following exposure to a range of drinks. • The majority of soft drinks and sports drinks caused softening of dental enamel by 30%-50%. The Oral Health CRC has this week released a briefing paper outlining the findings of its dental erosion studies and is recommending better consumer information and product labelling to help people consider their oral health when selecting food and drink products. Professor Reynolds says ‘sugar-free’ labelling does not necessarily mean a product is safe for teeth. “We have even found sugar-free confectionery products that are labelled ‘Toothfriendly’ and which when tested were found to be erosive.” Their tips for preventing dental erosion are: • Check ingredients for acidic additives, especially citric acid (ingredient number 330) and phosphoric acid (ingredient number 338). To contact our editorial team please email us at editorial@cnsmedia.com
Related ArticlesPackaging & Technology News First time for Europe: Spanish supermarket chain launches Nutri-score labeling16 Jan 2019 --- Spanish supermarket chain Eroski has introduced a handful of own-brand products featuring Nutri-Score labeling. This makes Eroski the first distribution company in Spain to incorporate this “advanced nutrition” labeling. The Nutri-Score system classifies foods into five levels, indicated by colored letters – from “A” in dark green to “E” in dark orange. It is calculated on the basis of the calories, the nutrients which are beneficial for our health – fiber, protein, amount of fruit, vegetables, nuts and pulses – and nutrients whose intake should be reduced – saturated fat, salt and sugar – per 100 grams of the product. Health & Nutrition News Holistic health? Plant-based among weight management ingredient drivers for 201914 Jan 2019 --- Weight management in 2019 will be shaped by the increasingly holistic interests of consumers, as their understanding of health shifts beyond shedding weight to include further markers of health, such as cognitive strength. Additional drivers will include ethical and sustainable concerns, paving the way for an increased number of botanical and plant-based ingredients. Health & Nutrition News A fresh look at fiber: Nutrient holds “surprisingly” significant disease prevention role14 Jan 2019 --- Higher intake levels of dietary fiber and whole grains are being linked with a lower risk of non-communicable diseases, body weight and cholesterol levels, according to an extensive analysis published in The Lancet. The research highlights the importance of carbohydrate quality in our diets, which may be particularly salient as low carb diets continue to trend. “We understood fiber to be good for us, but we didn't realize just how good it is,” study author, Andrew Reynolds of the University of Otago, New Zealand, tells NutritionInsight. Health & Nutrition News Nutritional health must not come at a food system sustainability cost, warns nutrition body09 Jan 2019 --- Environmental sustainability should be inherent to nutritional and dietary guidance, whether this is in reaching individuals or groups on their dietary choices or in terms of setting national dietary guidance at a federal level. This is the stance of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB), in a position paper published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. Improving the nutritional health of a population must not come at the expense of the sustainability of the food system, the group warns. Health & Nutrition News Brexit healthcare uncertainty: UK associations warn of staff shortages, increased costs and nutrition shortfalls09 Jan 2019 --- Brexit may present a shadow of uncertainty for initiatives launched within the UK health and nutrition sector, most notably the National Health Service (NHS) Long Term Plan, which was published on January 7. Next Tuesday (January 15) marks the date on which the controversial Brexit deal, negotiated between Prime Minister Theresa May and the European Union (EU), will be approved or rejected by UK MPs. Yet, acceptance of the deal appears highly unlikely given the opposition from within the UK Conservative Party as well as other Remainers. More Articles |
.jpg)
