CDA Essentials 2019 • Volume 7 • Issue 2

27 Issue 2 | 2019 | S upporting Y our P ractice Helping Patients with Erosive Tooth Wear Change Dietary Habits For patients with dental erosion and sensitive teeth, consumption of acidic drinks (like pop and juice) and fruits can be a contributing factor to these conditions. Dr. Saoirse O’Toole, clinical lecturer in prosthodontics at King’s College London, is the lead researcher on a series of studies 1–3 that examined the impact of acidic food and drinks on tooth wear and hypersensitivity and tried to identify more effective ways to encourage patients to change their dietary habits. We asked her to tell us more about her findings. Why were you interested in studying dental erosion? I think we’re all seeing an increase in the prevalence of tooth wear; several reviews have shown that the prevalence is increasing globally. Part of my research shows the impact of diet on tooth wear and identifies the underlying risk factors. What does your research show? We found that the frequency of dietary acid intake—of fruits like apples, citrus and berries, and drinks like carbonated beverages, fruit drinks, fruit teas and wine, particularly between meals—is an important factor in erosive tooth wear, which wasn’t surprising. But it’s important for patients to know that it’s the daily intake of acidic drinks and foods that matters. So only asking a patient what acidic drinks/foods they consume may not pick up on their risk factors. They need to be having acids multiple times a day and this may mean the same type of acid (e.g., three cans of cola a day) or different types of acid (e.g., orange juice in the morning, fruit as a snack and a glass of wine in the evening). This was fine if it was once or twice a week. But if they did it every day, we started to see an increased risk of tooth wear. How many acidic intakes per day is acceptable? We found that every single additional intake of an acidic food or drink dramatically increased an individual’s risk of tooth erosion. One a day or less was not associated with increased risk. With two daily intakes, an individual was two times more likely to have erosive tooth wear, compared to an intake of one. With three or more daily intakes of an acidic food or drink, the risk jumps up considerably; an individual was 13–14 times more likely to have erosive tooth wear. saoirse.otoole@ kcl.ac.uk Dr. Saoirse O’Toole Theviewsexpressedarethoseoftheauthor anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheopinions orofficialpoliciesoftheCanadianDental Association. We think behaviour change intervention is more effective than advice alone in helping patients change their dietary habits.