水果茶,熱檸檬水和鹽醋味薯片都不利於牙齒健康

Drinking fruit teas and hot water with lemon can leave people 11 times more likely to suffer tooth erosion, scientists have found. Salt and vinegar crisps are also among problem foods which contain high levels of acid that can ruin teeth, a team from King's College London discovered.

科學家們發現：喝水果茶和熱檸檬水會使牙齒腐蝕的可能性增加11倍。鹽醋味薯片也是含有高水平酸性物質的問題食物，倫敦國王學院的一個研究小組發現。

Their investigation, published in the British Dental Journal, also found that how and when a person eats contributes to the risk of developing the condition.

他們的研究發表在《英國牙科雜誌》上，同時還發現人們如何吃以及何時吃會導致患牙齒腐蝕的風險。

While their data review found that increased consumption between meals was the biggest risk factor, it noted: "However, habitually drinking acidic drinks by sipping them slowly or holding acidic drinks in the mouth prior to swallowing, will also increase risk of progression".

雖然他們的數據綜述發現：增加兩餐間的攝入量是最大的風險因素，但也指出："然而，在喝下這些酸性飲品之前，習慣性地慢慢啜飲或將其含在口中會增加患病風險。"

The researchers have suggested the increase in patients with tooth erosion may be linked to changing patterns of eating, such as increased snacking in both children and adults. They found the rate of erosion was halved when drinks were consumed with meals.

研究人員表示：患者牙齒腐蝕風險的增加可能與不斷變化的飲食模式有關，比如攝入的兒童和成人零食增加。他們發現吃飯的時候喝這些飲料會使腐蝕速度減半。

Lead author Dr Saoirse O'Toole said: "It is well known that an acidic diet is associated with erosive tooth wear, however our study has shown the impact of the way in which acidic food and drinks are consumed."

首席作者Saoirse O'Toole博士說道："衆所周知，酸性飲食與腐蝕性牙齒磨損有關，然而我們的研究顯示了酸性食物和酸性飲料攝入方式的影響。"

Among the fruit teas, those with high levels of acid included ginger and lemon, berry and rosehip flavours. Dr O'Toole added: "With the prevalence of erosive tooth wear increasing, it is vitally important that we address this preventable aspect of erosive tooth wear.

在水果茶中，酸度高的水果茶有生薑和檸檬味、漿果和玫瑰味。O'Toole博士補充道："隨着腐蝕性牙齒磨損的發生率增加，解決這一可預防的腐蝕性牙齒磨損問題則至關重要。"

"Reducing dietary acid intake can be key to delaying progression of tooth erosion. While behaviour change can be difficult to achieve, specific, targeted behavioural interventions may prove successful."

"降低飲食中酸的攝入是延緩牙齒腐蝕過程的關鍵。雖然行爲變化難以實現，但具體的、有針對性的行爲干預是可以成功的。"

It found sweets or lozenges also have a large erosive potential when eaten regularly. While research has also found that sugar-free soft drinks are as bad for tooth erosion as sugared beverages.

研究發現：經常吃糖或糖果錠劑也可能造成牙齒腐蝕。雖然研究也已發現：無糖軟飲料與含糖飲料一樣會造成牙齒腐蝕。

Tooth erosion is not the same as tooth decay. Erosion affects the whole tooth surface whereas decay is when a cavity is formed. Erosion, which affects more than 30% of adults in Europe, is ranked as the third most important dental condition, after cavities and gum disease.

牙齒腐蝕與蛀牙不同。腐蝕會影響整個牙齒表面，而蛀牙則是在齲洞形成的時候。牙齒腐蝕影響了歐洲30%以上的成年人，被列爲第三大牙齒疾病，位僅次於齲洞和牙齦疾病。