RESUMO
Background: The concept of health has prevailed for centuries and the dietary habits are changing with modernization. “Healthy eating” is perceived to be important and fruit juices are promoted aggressively as a “Health drink”. Objectives: 1. To estimate endogenous pH and titratable acidity of four freshly prepared fruit juices. 2. To assess the effect of fruit juices on plaque pH in two groups. (DMFT=0 and DMFT≥1) Material and Methods: Forty Volunteers were divided into two groups based on caries experience. Endogenous pH and titratable acidity of fruit juices; pH of plaque samples collected at different time interval was assessed. Statistical analysis was done by using ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc. Result: Endogenous pH of all fruit juices was acidic. Titratable acidity was maximum for sweet lime. In group B for Mango and Sweet lime plaque pH was below critical value till 30 minutes. Conclusion: All the fruit juices tested in present study were acidic in nature and reduced plaque pH below critical pH in caries group.