부산대학교 도서관

OBJECTIVE: Liquid oral medicines form a significant proportion (11%) of the medicines used by the population as a whole, either prescribed or over the counter. The active agent, as well as some of the other ingredients, can pose a threat to oral health. METHOD: Eight liquid oral medicines and two effervescent preparations routinely prescribed for long-term use by paediatric renal patients were assessed for titratable acidity and pH values. RESULTS: All of the medicines tested were acidic and the majority were well below the critical pH of 5.5 at which enamel demineralisation takes place. The titratable acidity values, at a pH of 6.7, ranged between 0.01 and 1.54 for the liquid preparations but were 8.4 and 10.6 for the two effervescent tablets tested. CONCLUSION: Surplus acid in effervescent preparations while ensuring palatability of medicines and thus compliance, may produce unwanted dental side effects in children who are already medically compromised.