International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry

Register      Login

VOLUME 2 , ISSUE 2 ( May-August, 2009 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

The Acidogenicity of Various Chocolates Available in Indian Market: A Comparative Study

Amitha M Hegde, Rajmohan Shetty, Aletta Reema Sequeira

Keywords : Unfilled chocolates, filled chocolates, pH, plaque

Citation Information : Hegde AM, Shetty R, Sequeira AR. The Acidogenicity of Various Chocolates Available in Indian Market: A Comparative Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2009; 2 (2):20-24.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-06-2016

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2009; The Author(s).


Abstract

It is widely accepted that all foods containing “fermentable carbohydrates” have the potential to contribute to caries formation. Fermentable carbohydrates are present in most starches and all sugars, including those that occur naturally in foods and those added in processed foods. The relative cariogenicity of chocolates is dependent on their composition, texture, solubility, retentiveness and ability to stimulate salivary flow. The composition of the chocolates has profound impact on its cariogenic potential. There are a wide range of chocolates available in the market and very few studies have compared the chocolates available in the Indian market. This study was an in vivo study done on 30 dental volunteers where the cariogenicity between filled and unfilled chocolates were compared by evaluating the pH of plaque at different time intervals taken at baseline and at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes using a pH meter. In unfilled group, milk chocolate had maximum pH drop at 20 minutes (5.895) and diet chocolate had minimum pH drop at 10 minutes (6.143). In filled group, fruit and nut had maximum pH drop at 20 minutes (5.713) and caramel had minimum pH drop at 15 minutes (5.817). The results between unfilled and filled chocolate were found to be statistically significant between 15-30 minutes (p < 0.0005) and suggestive that filled chocolates were more cariogenic than unfilled chocolates.


PDF Share
  1. Mc Donald, RE.; Avery, DR.; Dean, JA. Dentistry for the child and adolescent. 8th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Publications; 2004. 769 p.
  2. Verakaki E, Duggal MS. A comparison of different kinds of European chocolates on human plaque pH. Eur J Paediatr Dent 2003 Dec;4(4):203-210.
  3. Curzon, MEJ. Chocolate and dental health. In: Knight, I., editor. Chocolate and cocoa: health and nutrition. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd; 1999. 360 p.
  4. Beckett, ST. Industrial chocolate, manufacture, and use. 3rd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Science; 1999. p. 1-77. 5 Bixler, RG.; Morgan, MM. Cocoa bean and chocolate processing. In: Knight, I., editor. Chocolate and cocoa: health and nutrition. Oxford: Blackwell Science; 1999.
  5. Strålfors A. Inhibition of hamster caries by substance in chocolate. Arch Oral Biol 1967 Aug;12(8):956-962.
  6. Oosima T, Osaka Y, Sasaki H, Matsumolo M, Sobue S. Cariostatic activities of cacao bean extracts. Caries Res 1999;33:328.
  7. Fosdick LS, Englander HR, Hoerman KC, Kesel RG. A comparison of pH values of in vivo dental plaque after sucrose and sorbital mouth rinses. J Am Dent Assoc 1957 Aug;55(2): 191-195.
  8. Frostell G. A method for evaluation of acid potentialities of foods. Acta Odontol Scand 1970 Nov;28(5):599-622.
  9. Rugg-Gunn AJ, Edgar WM, Geddes DA, Jenkins GN. The effect of different meal patterns upon plaque pH in human subjects. Br Dent J 1975 Nov4;139(9):351-356.
  10. Cardwell, G. Chocolate: health and pleasure. Jan 2005. Available from: www.glencardwell.com.
  11. Osawa K, Miyazaki K, Shimura S, Okuda J, Matsumoto M, Ooshima T. Identification of cariostatic substances in the cocoa bean husk: their anti-glucosyltransferase and antibacterial activities. J Dent Res 2001 Nov;80(11):2000-2004.
  12. Das S, Das AK, Murphy RA, Warty S. Cariostatic effect of aspartame in rats. Caries Res 1997;31(1):78-83.
  13. Mishiro Y, Kaneko H. Effect of a dipeptide, asparlame, on lactic acid production in human whole saliva. J Dent Res 1977 Nov;56(11):1427.
  14. Olson BL. An in vitro study of the effects of artificial sweeteners on adherent plaque formation. J Dent Res 1977 Nov;56(11): 1426.
  15. Edgar WM, Dodds MW. The effect of sweeteners on acid production in plaque. Int Dent J 1985 Mar;35(1):18-22.
  16. Andlaw RJ. The relationship between acid production and enamel decalcification in salivary fermentations of carbohydrate food stuffs. J Dent Res 1960 Nov-Dec;39:1200-1209.
  17. Kashket S, Van Houte J, Lopez LR, Stocks S. Lack of correlation between food retention on the human dentition and consumer perception of food stickiness. J Dent Res 1991 Oct;70(10): 1314-1319.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.