Effect of Almond Powder and Banana Milk on the Microhardness of Erosive Lesions of Primary Enamel Caused by Jelly Gum and Jelly Candy: An In Vitro Study

Demineralization and remineralization are naturally occurring processes. Since the type of food and its ingredients have a significant effect on the above-mentioned processes, this study aimed to investigate the effect of almond powder and banana milk on primary enamel erosive lesions caused by jelly gum and jelly candy.

This in vitro study was conducted on 80 primary molar teeth. After the initial microhardness measurement, half of the teeth were immersed in an edible jelly solution, while the other half were immersed in a jelly gum solution for 5 minutes twice a day for 5 days. At the end of the fifth day, the microhardness of the samples was measured again. The teeth in each group were then randomly divided into four subgroups (n = 10) for immersion in 80% almond suspension, banana milk, artificial saliva, and fluoride gel for 15 minutes. Next, the microhardness of the teeth was measured for the third time, and the results were analyzed using ANOVA, ANCOVA, and post-hoc tests (α = 0.05).

The microhardness of the specimens in the jelly group was significantly higher than that of the specimens in the jelly gum group. The microhardness of the specimens in the saliva group was significantly the lowest (p <0.05); while the other remineralizing agents showed no significant difference with each other (p >0.05).

This study demonstrated that both jelly and jelly gum significantly reduced enamel microhardness, with jelly gum showing a stronger demineralizing effect. Almond powder and banana milk effectively restored enamel hardness, exhibiting remineralization comparable to fluoride. These findings suggest that natural, calcium-rich foods such as almonds and banana milk, may serve as viable alternatives for managing early erosive lesions in children.

According to the results, jelly candy and jelly gum increase dental erosion, and the demineralizing effect of jelly gum is greater than that of jelly candy. Almond and banana milk cause enamel remineralization, similar to fluoride.