RESEARCHERS AT Dundee University could have bitten off more than they can chew with their finding that being a vegetarian is bad for teeth— especially if the vegetables are oven-roasted.

Their controversial findings have been published in the latest edition of the European Journal Of Pros-thodontics And Restorative Dentistry.

It is based on a study into the effects of the popular vegetarian dish ratatouille on the teeth.

The team, led by Dr Graham Chadwick of the school of dentistry, found that oven-roasted ratatouille produces more acidity than stewed ratatouille.

Dental erosion is caused by the effects of acid from food and drinks on teeth, and it had been thought that vegetarians are in particular danger of dental erosion because of the amount of acid produced by cooked vegetables.

Dr Chadwick’s team found that ratatouille is acidic whether it is oven-roasted or stewed, but oven-roasting produces more acid compared to stewed cooking.

The cooking method had no impact on the acidity of tomatoes and onions, but roasting caused aubergines, green peppers and courgettes to be more acidic.

Only red peppers were more acidic when stewed.

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.

“The finding that cooking method has an impact on the acidity of food is an interesting and useful tool for dentists when advising patients on ways to reduce their chances of dental erosion.”

The research is one in a series of research projects looking into the causes of dental erosion.