Not only accused of promoting obesity, sugary soft drinks are, according to a study, one of the main causes of erosion of tooth enamel and dentin in obese people.
Sodas and other sugary drinks have a bad reputation. Promoting obesity, certain cancers and liver damage, they are also partly responsible for the poor oral health of obese people.
This is highlighted by a new study conducted by King’s College London and published in the journal Clinical Oral Investigations. Its authors have established a formal link between the consumption of sodas and sugary drinks and the erosion of dental enamel and dentin in obese people.
“It is the acidic nature of certain beverages, such as soft drinks and acidic fruit juices, that causes tooth wear,” explains Dr. Saoirse O’Toole, lead author of this new work.
A global effect on the body
Ranked third among dental diseases after cavities and gum disease, dental wear is favored by the regular consumption of acidic foods and beverages. Obese people also have other risk factors, such as an increased likelihood of acid reflux, which were also taken into account in this study.
This premature wear of the teeth due to the softening of the dental enamel by food or stomach acids. It occurs when the outer layer of the tooth, called enamel, gradually dissolves. This can lead to changes in the shape or appearance of the teeth. They can also become tender and painful when in contact with hot or cold food and drink.
To establish a formal link between obesity and erosion of enamel and dentin, the researchers relied on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004, a large study program designed to assess the health and the nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. They analyzed a sample of 3,542 patients, for whom readings of body mass index (BMI) and the level of dental wear were made.
For Dr. O’Toole, these results are “an important message for obese patients who consume calories through acidic sugary drinks. These drinks can damage their bodies and teeth. There is also an important message for dentists. We should ask our patients who are obese and have teeth to report the calories they drink because it can affect their whole body, not just their teeth.”
Changing your eating habits to preserve your teeth
The authors of the study recall that the wear of dental enamel and dentin, that is to say the tissue found under the enamel and constituting the major part of the tooth, can not only impact the quality of life, but also lead to costly dental surgery procedures, which sometimes exceed 30,000 pounds per patient, or nearly 35,000 euros.
Hence the importance of changing consumption habits to avoid dental erosion.
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