Influence of sugar containing and acidic foods on saliva
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An investigation of the influence of sugar-containing and acidic foods on the development of the acquired salivary pellicle on tooth surfaces and dental erosion
IRAS ID
317796
Contact name
Mahdi Mutahar
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Portsmouth
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 4 days
Research summary
Dental erosion is the wear of teeth by acids from foods and drinks or regurgitated from the stomach into the mouth. Saliva and pellicle (a thin protein film that naturally forms on tooth surfaces immediately after brushing) offer some protection against dental erosion. This study aims to look at the constituents and protective effects of saliva and salivary pellicle on enamel.
Study participants will be required to provide either saliva or teeth.
Healthy participants will be identified from staff and students at University of Portsmouth Dental Academy (UPDA) for saliva collection and will be given the information sheet and sufficient time to consider partaking in the study. Adult volunteers will give written informed consent and will complete medical, dental, diet and reflux (acid coming entering the mouth from the stomach) questionnaires to decide whether they meet the inclusion/ exclusion criteria for saliva collection. Saliva will be collected via dribbling into a sterilized tube before and after ingesting fruit juice in the same visit.
For teeth collection, patients of the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy (UPDA) who are scheduled to have a tooth or teeth removed as part of their routine treatment will be invited to donate their tooth. In their first visit to UPDA, Patient volunteers will be invited to take part and will be given the information sheet and allowed enough time to consider the study before their next visit when tooth extraction is planned as part of their routine treatment . During their next visit, Patient volunteers will be asked to confirm whether they still want to donate their tooth after it is removed as part of their treatment. After their tooth is extracted it will be transferred to the Biomaterials laboratory at UPDA. Once the tooth is extracted the Patient volunteer’s participation in the study is over.REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/NW/0075
Date of REC Opinion
17 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion