Evidence That Daily Vinegar Ingestion May Contribute to Erosive Tooth Wear in Adults.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment
PubMed 33297831 · doi:10.1089/jmf.2020.0108
What was done
Healthy adults participating in an 8-week randomized trial were assigned to consume either a liquid vinegar drink (two tablespoons of vinegar in a cup of water; 3.6 g acetic acid) or a commercial vinegar pill (control; 0.045 g acetic acid) twice daily at mealtime. Erosive tooth wear was assessed at baseline and week 8 using the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) by a blinded registered dental hygienist.
What was found
Mean BEWE scores did not change in the control group over the 8-week study but increased by 18% in the liquid vinegar group (P = .038).
Why it matters
Liquid vinegar is widely consumed for metabolic benefits, but regular ingestion can cause measurable enamel erosion in as little as eight weeks.
Limits
The abstract does not state the sample size (n), baseline participant demographics, or absolute BEWE scores. Dental erosion was evaluated as part of a trial focused primarily on metabolic outcomes, and long-term dental consequences or protective strategies were not reported.
Cited by
- context Rinsing the mouth with cider vinegar causes dreadful, aggressive gum recession.