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Comparison of the Cariogenicity of Carbonated Soft Drinks and Fruit flavored Drinks Using Experimental Rats

Asma Al-Jobair, Rita Khounganian

Objective: To test and compare the cariogenicity of carbonated soft drinks and fruit-flavored drinks using experimental rats.

Materials and Methods: Seventy Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into six experimental groups comprising 10 rats each. Each group was offered one of the following drinks: carbonated cola, carbonated orange, carbonated citrus, apple-flavored, orange-flavored, and mango-flavored. In addition, 10 rats were offered distilled water as a control. The experiment continued for 5 weeks. The rats’ molar teeth were scored for smooth surface and sulcal caries using the modified Keyes method. Caries scores were compared between different groups using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s test.

Results: Rats in the carbonated and fruit-flavored drink groups had higher caries scores with significant differences when compared with the control group. Rats consuming carbonated cola developed higher smooth surface and sulcal caries than rats consuming the other drinks. However, rats consuming other carbonated and fruit-flavored drinks developed similar smooth surface and sulcal caries.

Conclusion: Carbonated soft drinks, especially cola, and fruit-flavored drinks are cariogenic; however, cariogenicity was comparable between the various drinks evaluated in this study