RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the erosive potential of tea beverages containing citric acid on tooth surfaces. METHODS: Specimens of extracted bovine teeth enamel were embedded in resin and polished. The specimens were subjected to one of three treatments (n=10 per treatment group): mineral water, brewed black tea, or black tea beverage. Tooth specimens were exposed to the treatment for 30 minutes and then analyzed using Vickers surface hardness testing and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: After 30 minutes of treatment, there were statistically significant differences between the hardness of the enamel pre- and post-treatment in both, the brewed black tea and black tea beverage groups (P0.05).On observation using a scanning electron microscope, the tooth surfaces exposed to the black tea beverage containing citric acid were rougher than the tooth surfaces in the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the erosive potential of citric acid-containing tea beverages on tooth surfaces. Thus, there is need to caution people regularly consuming tea beverages containing citric acid, regarding the possibility of tooth surface erosion.