Despite its nutrients and purported health benefits, regularly drinking pomegranate juice may be harmful to your teeth. According to a study, this acidic drink can lead to demineralization of teeth. In addition, the study authors write that pomegranate juice can cause dental erosion comparable to cola.
“Long-term continuous consumption of pomegranate juice can lead to irreversible damage to the tooth structure,” write the authors of the study from Xinjiang Medical University (China), led by Yue Chen.
To study the erosive nature of pomegranate juice, pieces of enamel were immersed in deionized water, cola, or pomegranate juice four times a day for 14 days and then placed in artificial saliva. Surface hardness was measured on the seventh and fourteenth days. The researchers examined surface structures using scanning electron microscopy and the depth of demineralization using confocal laser scanning microscopy.
In addition, they analyzed the pH, calcium and phosphorus levels in the solutions. The microhardness of the pomegranate juice and cola groups decreased over time, with pomegranate juice causing large cracks and cola causing ulceration. Fluorescence was significantly higher in the pomegranate juice group. The study authors write that cola had a lower pH level but higher phosphorus content compared to pomegranate juice, which contained higher calcium levels.
The acidic characteristic of pomegranate juice due to its low pH can potentially damage the enamel surface, causing erosion. In addition, according to research, the citric acid it contains promotes demineralization of enamel, which causes significant damage to the surface of the teeth.
However, this study had limitations, including the fact that it was conducted in vitro. Accordingly, the reproduction of the oral environment of the human mouth might not be complete.
Additional in vivo studies are needed in the future to confirm the effect of pomegranate juice on enamel surface morphology and hardness.
“Pomegranate juice may cause enamel demineralization with erosive potential comparable to cola,” Chen and colleagues write.