Incorporating Arginine in fancy water beverages lowers erosive tooth wear potential of these beverages: Study

With the increased popularity of flavored sparkling and carbonated beverages, erosive wear is an important issue. The oral health benefits of L-arginine have been reported in various studies. In this study, the efficacy of five commercially available fancy waters containing L-arginine was tested in reducing tooth wear over a controlled period of 72 hours.

The five commercial fancy waters, Oasis Lemon, Oasis Lemon Mint, Perrier Lemon, Perrier Grapefruit, and Pellegrino Lemon, were enriched with 2% L-arginine (w/v). Deionized water was used as a negative control. Key parameters, such as pH, buffer capacity, and fluoride (F−) concentrations, were measured to determine the impact of arginine addition.

To prepare, specimens were subjected to baseline volumetric analysis using micro-CT imaging. The specimens were then placed in the beverages for 72 hours at 37°C, with solutions changed every 24 hours. Post-exposure, 3D volumetric assessments and structural reconstructions were conducted to quantify and visualize enamel wear.

Key Findings

Improved pH and Fluoride Concentrations::

• Fancy waters with arginine had significantly higher pH and fluoride concentration compared to the control (p < 0.001).

Buffer Capacity:

• Among the arginine-rich drinks, Perrier-Grapefruit had the highest buffer capacity, which was significantly higher than Oasis Lemon, Oasis Lemon Mint, and Pellegrino Lemon (p < 0.05).

Enamel Volume Retention:

• The specimens treated with Oasis Lemon Mint (± arginine) and Pellegrino Lemon (control) showed significant volume loss compared to baseline (p < 0.05).

• Arginine-containing drinks had higher specimen volume compared to the non-arginine counterparts, thus proving their protective role.

Surface Wear Evidence:

• Surface contrast imaging showed evident wear from baseline (T0) to the final analysis (T1) in specimens treated with Oasis Lemon Mint (± arginine) and Pellegrino Lemon without arginine.

Arginine enrichment of flavored fancy waters may minimize their erosive potential. This may provide a preventive mechanism against enamel wear and tear. The current research findings suggest that the formulation of beverages should be addressed to meet oral health needs without compromising consumer appeal. This would help reduce the burden of dental erosion among at-risk populations by promoting arginine-enriched beverages.

Reference:

Bijle, Mohammed Nadeem & Sharaf, Dalya & BAHDAR, Moussa & Daood, Umer & Yiu, Cynthia. (2024). Preventive potential of arginine incorporated in fancy waters for erosive tooth wear. Journal of Dentistry. 153. 10.1016/j.jdent.2024.105500.