Citric acid contained in beverages and foods is one of the main causes of enamel erosion. It was hypothesized that the clearance of citric acid from saliva would influence the degree of salivary saturation with respect to hydroxyapatite (OHAp). Ten subjects rinsed with 2% citric acid, pH 2.1, for 5 s. Before and at 1, 2, 5, 10 and 15 min after the rinse, a small saliva sample was collected. The sample pH, ionic strength and the concentrations of ionized calcium, inorganic phosphate and citric acid were determined. The pH of the saliva decreased from 7.21 ± 0.40 (mean ± SD) at time zero to a minimum of 6.46 ± 0.88 at 1 min after the rinse. It was back to baseline value after 15 min. The saliva was supersaturated with respect to OHAp at time zero. After the rinse with the citric acid the saturation level shifted to undersaturation in all individuals except one. At 1 and 2 min after the rinse the saliva was, on average, undersaturated. After 5 min the average saturation level was back to supersaturation. The individual differences were large. The correlations between the rate of clearance of citric acid during the 1 minute and the mimimum degree of saturation with respect to OHAp at 1, 2 and 5 min after the rinse were significant (r = 0.84, r = 0.76 and r = 0.79, respectively). In conclusion, rinsing with citric acid will cause a decrease in the saturation level with respect to OHAp in a highly individual pattern.

This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.