Tongue erosions and diet cola

Ear Nose Throat J. 2007 Apr;86(4):232-3.

Abstract

We report the case of a 38-year-old woman who presented with a 10-year history of painful ulcerations on her tongue. She reported that she drank large quantities of diet cola and some orange juice daily and that she used cinnamon-flavored toothpaste and mouthwash nightly. Patch testing elicited positive reactions to balsam of Peru (a fragrance as well as a flavoring agent put in cola drinks that cross-reacts with orange juice) and cinnamic aldehyde. She was diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis. She was put on a restricted diet and a fragrance-free regimen, and her condition resolved.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acrolein / adverse effects
  • Acrolein / analogs & derivatives
  • Adult
  • Balsams / adverse effects
  • Beverages / adverse effects
  • Carbonated Beverages / adverse effects*
  • Citrus sinensis / adverse effects
  • Cross Reactions
  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / diagnosis
  • Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / etiology*
  • Female
  • Flavoring Agents / adverse effects*
  • Glossitis / diagnosis
  • Glossitis / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Oral Ulcer / diagnosis
  • Oral Ulcer / etiology*
  • Patch Tests
  • Sweetening Agents / adverse effects*
  • Toothpastes / adverse effects

Substances

  • Balsams
  • Flavoring Agents
  • Sweetening Agents
  • Toothpastes
  • Acrolein
  • Peruvian balsam
  • cinnamaldehyde