Eating Cheese Offers Protection against Cavities

Cheese and other dairy products help in maintaining the health of teeth, a new study has found. Researchers say that cheese protects teeth by preserving the enamel.

The study included 68 participants between the ages 12 and 15. Researchers checked the pH levels of dental plaque in each of the participants. Samples from the participants' mouths were drawn before and after they consumed cheese, milk, or sugar-free yogurt.

The study group was divided into three groups who got different dairy products to eat; the first group got cheddar cheese, the second group got to drink milk, and the third group got to eat sugar-free yogurt.

Researchers then obtained samples of their dental plaque at 10, 20 and 30 minutes after consumption.

A pH level below 5.5 means that dental plaque can erode the teeth enamel and lead to severe cavities.

"The higher the pH level is above 5.5, the lower the chance of developing cavities," explains Vipul Yadav, MDS, lead author of the study.

Researchers found that people who ate cheese had higher pH in their mouth, while those who ate yogurt or drank milk had no such changes.

According to the study, the rise in saliva in the mouth of those eating cheese may be behind the increased levels of pH. Also, some compounds in cheese tend to coat the enamel, slowing erosion.

"It looks like dairy does the mouth good. Not only are dairy products a healthy alternative to carb- or sugar-filled snacks, they also may be considered as a preventive measure against cavities," said AGD Seung-Hee Rhee, spokesperson for Academy of General Dentistry, according to a news release.

The study is published in the journal General Dentistry.