We all hear that cheese and dairy products are great sources of calcium and help us maintain healthy bones. But have you ever heard that cheese may protect against tooth erosion?
There has been a limited amount of research on dairy products in relation to oral health. However, a recent study has been published in General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). The study focuses on the effects of cheese on oral health.
The study sampled 68 adolescents, ages 12-15. The researchers randomly split the participants into three groups of equal size. They asked one group to consume cheese, another to consume milk and the third group to consume sugar-free yogurt.
Both before and after the subjects had eaten, the authors recorded the dental plaque pH in the subjects’ mouths.
A person is at risk for tooth erosion if their pH level falls below 5.5.
"The higher the pH level is above 5.5, the lower the chance of developing cavities," said Vipul Yadav, lead author of the study.
For three minutes each group consumed their respective food or drink, then rinsed their mouths with water. pH levels of each participant were recorded at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after consumption.
The groups who consumed milk and sugar-free yogurt showed no signs of pH level changes in their mouths. The group who ate cheese, however, displayed a sharp increase in pH levels at the 10, 20 and 30 minute marks. These results indicate cheese may have anti-cavity properties.
One theory is that the pH levels from eating cheese may have changed due to an increase in saliva. Saliva production speeds up when chewing, and the other two products – milk and sugar-free yogurt – required minimal or no chewing.
Another theory suggested the compounds in cheese protect teeth from acid by potentially adhering to the tooth enamel.
