Preventive Effect of Fluoridated and Non‐Fluoridated Toothpastes on Enamel Erosion Caused by Industrialized Energy Drinks and Sports Drinks: An In Vitro Study

Background Dental erosion, the irreversible loss of enamel due to acid exposure, is increasingly observed among adolescents and athletes, primarily due to frequent consumption of acidic energy and sports drinks. These beverages, while marketed for performance enhancement, can lead to significant enamel demineralization, especially under reduced salivary flow during intense activity. This in vitro study evaluated the erosive potential of commercially available energy and sports drinks on human enamel and assessed the protective effects of three toothpaste formulations fluoride‐based, herbal based and NovaMin‐based. Materials and Methods Forty extracted human premolars were randomly divided into four groups ( n = 10): Group I (fluoridated toothpaste), Group II (Herbal toothpaste), Group III (NovaMin‐based toothpaste), and Group IV (erosion control, no brushing). Baseline surface micro‐hardness was measured using the Vickers hardness test. Following brushing simulation, specimens were exposed to Monster Energy and Gatorade for seven days. Post‐treatment micro‐hardness was assessed and data were analyzed statistically. Results All test groups showed significantly higher enamel micro‐hardness compared to the control group. A significant increase in Mean Vickers Hardness Number was observed from baseline to post‐treatment across all test groups. Pepsodent Germicheck (fluoridated toothpaste) showed the greatest protective effect, with mean post‐treatment hardness values of 176.11 (Monster Energy) and 165.18 (Gatorade), with corresponding mean differences of 91.82 and 102.75 ( p = 0.01). Conclusion Fluoride and NovaMin toothpastes significantly reduce enamel erosion from acidic drinks. Herbal dentifrices offered limited protection. Preventive strategies, including remineralizing toothpaste use and awareness of beverage acidity, are essential to combat dental erosion.