Roast veggies as bad for teeth as fizzy drinks Last updated at 16:25pm on 4th May 2006 You may think roasted vegetables are a healthy side-dish but they are actually as acidic as fizzy drinks, scientists have revealed. They found this method of cooking made aubergines, green peppers and courgettes more acidic. The acid can cause dental erosion when it comes in contact with teeth. The researchers from the University of Dundee also found oven-roasting the vegetarian dish ratatouille significantly increased its acidity when compared to stewing. Lead researcher Dr Chadwick said: "The acidity of ratatouille prepared by oven-roasting is the same as that of some carbonated drinks that, when consumed in excess, are believed to contribute to the development of dental erosion." However, they found the cooking method had no impact on the acidity of tomatoes or onions. The Dundee team's research was based on reports that people on a vegetarian diet may be more at risk from dental erosion because such a large quantity of the foods they eat, such as fruits and vegetables, tend to be quite acidic in nature. The research is published in the current edition of the European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry.

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