Dr. Edward Lynch (Dental) and co-workers have published a paper, "Highly Acidic pH Values of Carbonated Sweet Drinks, Fruit Juices, Mineral Waters and Unregulated Fluoride Levels in Oral Care Products and Drinks in India: A Public Health Concern" in the online July issue of Perspectives in Public Health. This research quantified and assessed the concentrations of fluoride in commonly used oral care products, fruit juices, bottled waters, soft drinks, favored bottled milk, and milkshakes and also determined the pH of carbonated sweet drinks and drinks marketed in India. Of the wide variety of dentifrices and tooth powders available in India, most brands do not indicate the fluoride levels on their packaging or inserts. Similarly, the unregulated acidic pH values of carbonated sweet drinks are not only potentially contributing to non-carious tooth loss (enamel erosion and dentine erosion), but are also a contributing factor to the weight gain observed in Indian adolescents.
