Cheese and Cavities
Researcher Dr. Judy Buttriss, science director for the British Nutrition
Foundation, has formulated a theory that a protein found in cheese called
casein, when broken down in the oral cavity, combines with the calcium
and phosphates of the cheese, and may restore the minerals in tooth enamel.
Cheese is an enemy of sugars and reacts with the them before they launch
their corrosive effect on the tooth enamel. If one snacks on cheese prior
to eating foods or desserts which contain sugar, one may in fact receive
some protection against the cavity-causing sugars. It is known that cavity
formation depends on how often one consumes sugars and not how much, so
the theory bases itself on the concept that if one eats cheese prior to
sugar consumption, this will allow the enamel to have a protective shield. Further studies are being conducted about this theory.
As always, brushing and flossing at least twice daily is the key in
decreasing cavity formation from occurring.
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