Relationship between dental erosion, soft drink consumption, and gastroesophageal reflux among Icelanders

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental erosion in young Icelandic adults (19–22 years old) and patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), in relation to their soft drink consumption and gastroesophageal reflux. Eighty subjects (40 males and 40 females), comprising 57 young adults (mean age 21±2 years) and 23 GERD patients (mean age 35±10 years), were enrolled in this study. All subjects answered a detailed frequency questionnaire of soft drink consumption and participated in a clinical examination. Erosion was scored for incisor and molar teeth separately. No significant difference was observed in the prevalence of dental erosion between young adults and GERD patients. However, by combining the two study groups a three-fold higher risk of having erosion in molars or incisors was found for subjects drinking Coca-Cola three times a week or more often (p <0.05). Additionally, significantly higher erosion scores were found in molars among subjects drinking more than 1 litre of carbonated drinks (all brands) per week (p <0.05). It is concluded that the frequency of soft drink consumption is a strong risk factor in the development of dental erosion.