Comments on: Sugar, acid and teeth http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/ Skepticism. Critical thinking. Podcast. Community. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:04:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Andy Kaiser http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-4956 Andy Kaiser Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:03:50 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-4956 <p>Brett,</p> <p>The equation was developed by my writing partner referenced at the beginning of the article - Dr. <span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22px; color: #333333;">Diane Johnson. As you allude, it's a complex equation, and I didn't feel justified myself coming up with something arbitrary. So she did it. :)</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Feel free to develop your own formula if you think ours is off - the data is there for anyone to use!</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Thanks,</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Andy</span></span></p> Brett,

The equation was developed by my writing partner referenced at the beginning of the article – Dr. Diane Johnson. As you allude, it’s a complex equation, and I didn’t feel justified myself coming up with something arbitrary. So she did it. :)

Feel free to develop your own formula if you think ours is off – the data is there for anyone to use!

Thanks,

Andy

]]> By: Sheila http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-4955 Sheila Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:17:47 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-4955 Thank you for this valuable information!  It provided great support for my son's science project (does sugar have a correlation with pH in sodas)..and I guess it "depends what type of sugar".  Very enlightening and fun to read! Thank you for this valuable information!  It provided great support for my son’s science project (does sugar have a correlation with pH in sodas)..and I guess it “depends what type of sugar”.  Very enlightening and fun to read!

]]> By: Brett Shkopich http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-4952 Brett Shkopich Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:00:59 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-4952 Hi, i'm curious as to how you arrived at your equation for "badness" of the certain type of drink? From what i can tell you are giving equal weight to both acidity of the drink and the amount of sugar within it. From my experience as a dental student i don't believe that the initial acidity of the drink would contribute much to the "badness" of the liquid. This is because the liquid will be very quickly rinsed from the mouth (within a minute or two unless you sit there swishing) and its initial acidity won't play much of a factor in the caries process. The sugar content however, tends to leave the mouth filled with fermentable carbs that the acidogenic bacteria love. Thus the bacteria will create a prolonged acidic pH in the mouth and contribute a lot more to the cariogenicity of the liquid. You may want to develop a ratio that puts acidity at a much lower contribution factor than sugar (something like a 1:5 for acid:sugar). of course some research would need to be done and my guess of the ratio may be completely off. Otherwise great article Brett Hi,
i’m curious as to how you arrived at your equation for “badness” of the certain type of drink? From what i can tell you are giving equal weight to both acidity of the drink and the amount of sugar within it. From my experience as a dental student i don’t believe that the initial acidity of the drink would contribute much to the “badness” of the liquid. This is because the liquid will be very quickly rinsed from the mouth (within a minute or two unless you sit there swishing) and its initial acidity won’t play much of a factor in the caries process. The sugar content however, tends to leave the mouth filled with fermentable carbs that the acidogenic bacteria love. Thus the bacteria will create a prolonged acidic pH in the mouth and contribute a lot more to the cariogenicity of the liquid. You may want to develop a ratio that puts acidity at a much lower contribution factor than sugar (something like a 1:5 for acid:sugar). of course some research would need to be done and my guess of the ratio may be completely off.
Otherwise great article
Brett

]]> By: Andy Kaiser http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-4536 Andy Kaiser Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:51:18 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-4536 Wise Man, <i>>Stronger alcoholic drinks, not mentioned in here, are far worse than your teeth than sodapop or juice is. </i> I actually *did* mention stronger alcoholic drinks, though just a couple. However, where are you getting the idea they're "far worse for your teeth" than the other listed drinks? If it's not the sugar or acidity, what in particular is bad about the alcohol? In fact, I'd argue that the really strong stuff is better for your teeth - the alcohol kills bacteria. Like using a mouthwash with perks. :) Anyway, I'm not saying you're wrong, just that it doesn't sound right to me, so please follow up with more information on why alcohol in particular is bad for your teeth - I worked with an orthodontist on this article, and the experiences in her practice (as to what people with tooth decay drink the most) do not match your hypothesis. Andy Wise Man,

>Stronger alcoholic drinks, not mentioned in here, are far worse than your teeth than sodapop or juice is.

I actually *did* mention stronger alcoholic drinks, though just a couple. However, where are you getting the idea they’re “far worse for your teeth” than the other listed drinks? If it’s not the sugar or acidity, what in particular is bad about the alcohol? In fact, I’d argue that the really strong stuff is better for your teeth – the alcohol kills bacteria. Like using a mouthwash with perks. :)

Anyway, I’m not saying you’re wrong, just that it doesn’t sound right to me, so please follow up with more information on why alcohol in particular is bad for your teeth – I worked with an orthodontist on this article, and the experiences in her practice (as to what people with tooth decay drink the most) do not match your hypothesis.

Andy

]]> By: Wise Man http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-4520 Wise Man Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:32:41 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-4520 Stronger alcoholic drinks, not mentioned in here, are far worse than your teeth than sodapop or juice is. Most spirits and even some wines, beers, and "alcopop" drinks can be extremely damaging. Let's look at it this way, someone who drinks an average of 60 ounces of pop or juice a day is going to have less tooth damage than someone who drinks an average of 30 oz of a strong alcoholic drink per day. Usually people who drink pop have somewhat yellow teeth, cavities, even some missing teeth. Alcoholics usually have rotting, yellow to brown teeth, at least of what they have left, by comparison. Not teling you abstain from alcohol, but you forgot to factor in alcoholic content in your test. Stronger alcoholic drinks, not mentioned in here, are far worse than your teeth than sodapop or juice is. Most spirits and even some wines, beers, and “alcopop” drinks can be extremely damaging. Let’s look at it this way, someone who drinks an average of 60 ounces of pop or juice a day is going to have less tooth damage than someone who drinks an average of 30 oz of a strong alcoholic drink per day. Usually people who drink pop have somewhat yellow teeth, cavities, even some missing teeth. Alcoholics usually have rotting, yellow to brown teeth, at least of what they have left, by comparison. Not teling you abstain from alcohol, but you forgot to factor in alcoholic content in your test.

]]> By: Bob Allen http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-3105 Bob Allen Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:59:53 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-3105 Hay David, Stop worrying - just immediately follow the Vernors with a floride rinse chaser! Bob Hay David,

Stop worrying – just immediately follow the Vernors with a floride rinse chaser!

Bob

]]> By: David Annis http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-3104 David Annis Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:56:46 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-3104 I have a weakness for Vernors, so I indulge. I try to rinse with a fluoride rinse soon after. I wonder how much difference the time between consumption and rinsing make. David I have a weakness for Vernors, so I indulge. I try to rinse with a fluoride rinse soon after. I wonder how much difference the time between consumption and rinsing make.

David

]]> By: Scott Dalrymple http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-3103 Scott Dalrymple Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:39:13 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-3103 Great episode Andy! Keep up the great work! Great episode Andy! Keep up the great work!

]]> By: DB Skeptic http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-2786 DB Skeptic Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:15:07 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-2786 Frank, <i>Really great episode Andy, thanks.</i> You're welcome - thanks for the compliment and the support. It's rare I get either, so always good to know I'm doing something right. Andy Frank,

Really great episode Andy, thanks.

You’re welcome – thanks for the compliment and the support. It’s rare I get either, so always good to know I’m doing something right.

Andy

]]> By: Frank http://www.dbskeptic.com/2009/04/05/sugar-acid-and-teeth/comment-page-1/#comment-2783 Frank Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:47:26 +0000 http://www.dbskeptic.com/?p=922#comment-2783 Really great episode Andy, thanks. Really great episode Andy, thanks.

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