Olga Gerasimidou

The Role of Acidic Beverages in Dental Erosion

The continuous increase globally of acidic beverages intake contributes to a significant risk to individuals’ oral health due to the increased occurrence of dental erosion. Dental erosion as a condition can be characterized by the loss of enamel and dentin due to non-bacterial chemical means. This multi-factorial condition has now been defined as a separate clinical entity. Acidic drinks such as fruit juices, flavored waters, carbonated sodas, sports drinks, energy drinks, and alcoholic beverages cause dental erosion through the loss of tooth structure and as a result of hydroxyapatite dissolution. Dietary habits nocturnal feeding, prolonged retention, swishing, and sipping, lead to higher levels of intraoral acid exposure. The loss of tooth tissue through erosion is further amplified by a decrease in saliva function and in some cases through mechanical wear, namely abrasion and/or attrition. Clinicians must have a strong understanding of the pathophysiology of dental erosion and the role of acidic beverages in increasing the risk of developing dental erosion. They must be able to accurately identify the causes and risk factors, diagnose and provide individualized preventive care strategies that will decrease the possibility of dental erosion.

Dr. Olga Gerasimidou, DDS, PhD
Assistant Professor, Dept. Of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry,
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Olga Gerasimidou was born in Thessaloniki. She graduated from the School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) in March 1999. In 2009, she was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Guy’s, King’s & St. Thomas’ Dental School, King’s College London, UK, with a thesis titled "Tooth Mobility, Movement and Symptoms caused by Occlusal changes." She participated in the educational activities of the same department, having held the position of Honorary Clinical Assistant at Guy’s & St. Thomas’ NHS Trust and King’s Health Care NHS Trust from January 1st, 2002, to December 31st, 2006. At the same time, she worked as a dentist in private practices in London. In 2007, she returned to Greece and has since been practicing dentistry in her private practice. From 2018, she worked as an academic fellow at the Department of Operative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, AUTH. In July 2023, she was elected Assistant Professor of Operative Dentistry. She is the mother of a young daughter.