The erosive potential of jawbreakers, a type of hard candy

To cite this article:
Int J Dent Hygiene   8 , 2010; 308–312
DOI: 10.1111/j.1601‐5037.2010.00450.x
Brand HS, Gambon DL, van Dop LF, van Liere LE, Veerman ECI. The erosive potential of jawbreakers, a type of hard candy. Abstract:  Objectives:  To explore the consumption pattern of a specific type of acidic solid candy, the so‐called jawbreakers, by primary school children and determine the erosive potential of this type of candy in vivo . Methods:  A questionnaire about jawbreaker consumption was distributed among 10–12 year‐old‐children ( n  = 302). Subsequently, 19 healthy volunteers tested four different jawbreakers in vivo . Whole saliva was collected 5 min before, 3 min during and 11 min after consumption. Salivary flow rate and pH were determined. Results:  Two‐thirds of the children reported a history of jawbreaker consumption, 18% during the last week. More than half of the children estimated their average time for consumption of one jawbreaker to be more than 15 min. In vivo , the jawbreakers induced 8.6–13.9‐fold increase in salivary flow rate. Sucking on sour, jumbo and strawberry jawbreakers induced a drop in salivary pH to values below pH 5.5. During consumption of fireball jawbreakers, the intra‐oral pH hardly changed. Conclusions:  Jawbreakers are frequently used by children, who keep this candy in their mouth for a long time. Jawbreakers differ considerable in erosive potential, with sour and jumbo jawbreakers > strawberry jawbreaker >> fireball jawbreaker. This information is of use for dental hygienists counselling juvenile patients with dental erosion.