Effectiveness of soy milk with calcium on bovine enamel erosions after soaking in chlorinated water.

We determined the effectiveness of soy milk with calcium for prevention of enamel erosion caused by chlorinated water. Thirty-six bovine teeth without wear or caries, sized 8 x 10 mm, were placed in resin acrylic blocks. All specimens had an initial enamel microhardness of 270-320 VHN and were randomly allocated into 3 groups (n = 12/group): control (not treated), casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) tooth mousse and soy milk with calcium. We applied the CPP-ACP for 5 minutes or soaked the teeth in soy milk with calcium for 20 minutes. Then, all the specimens were soaked in chlorinated water (pH 5.0) at room temperature for 96 hours following by 30 minutes in artificial saliva and then the microhardness of each tooth was re-determined. The data were analyzed statistically using the one-way ANOVA test and the paired t-test. The group with the least reduction in microhardness was the CPP-ACP treated group, followed by the control group and then the soy milk with calcium treated group. The enamel microhardness value after exposure to chlorinated water in the soy milk with calcium group was not significantly different from the control group (p > 0.05). The CPP-ACP treated group was significantly different from the other 2 groups (p < 0.05). Soy milk with calcium gave no protection against dental erosions caused by chlorinated water.