Consuming dairy products is extremely important to your overall health; many people do not know that these dairy products, like cheese, can be very beneficial when it comes to preventing cavities. Studies have shown that eating cheese increases the amount of saliva in the mouth. Salvia is the body’s natural way of maintaining a healthy pH level.
The study sampled 68 subjects ranging in age from 12 to 15, and the authors looked at the dental plaque pH in the subjects' mouths before and after they consumed cheese, milk, or sugar-free yogurt. If the pH level is lower than 5.5, they would be at risk for tooth erosion. If the pH level is above 5.5, there is less risk of developing cavities. Researchers instructed the first group to eat cheddar cheese, the second group to drink milk, and the third group to eat sugar-free yogurt. Each group consumed their product for three minutes and then swished with water. Researchers measured the pH level of each subject's mouth at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after consumption.
Researchers found that the fermented dairy product made the mouth more alkaline, which in turn reduced the need for dental treatment. They also discovered that cheese created a protective film around teeth. The results suggest that cheese has the highest anti-cariogenic property among the dairy products studied, and that milk and yogurt can be considered as non-cariogenic.
