Milk After Sugar Filled Cereals Could Prevent Dental Cavities
Many cereals are a combination of refined starch and sugar, both of which are consumed and converted by dental bacteria, which strips the teeth of their minerals and strength. However, accompanying such breakfasts with a glass of milk could lessen the affects of the carbohydrates contained within the cereal.
Research published in the ‘Journal of the American Dental Association’ studied the affect of such food products. Eating carbohydrates in quantities measuring higher than 60 grams per day vastly increases a person chance of developing cavities. The recent study involved 20 adults to eat 20 grams of dry Froot Loops cereal after which they either drank 100% apple juice, tap water or whole milk. To measure the acidity of the plaque a microcelectrode was used and inserted between the premolar teeth before the participants ate; two and five minutes post eating and finally two and then 30 minutes after they had drank the liquid.
The research found that the pH of the plaque decreased swiftly after just eating the cereal and remained at the acidic level of 5.83 for 30 minutes. The lower the pH level the more acidic. Those who drank milk had the highest decrease in acidity levels, with water in second place and apple juice third. The study found that only milk ably decreased the levels of acidity in the mouth after eating the cereal, which helps lower the affects of dental bacteria within the mouth. However, if the milk is mixed with the cereal the affects are syrupy, which can lower the pH levels to a more acidic measurement. A combination of syrupy milk and cereal along with a glass of acidic apple juice was found to be one of the most cavity causing breakfasts.
The researchers encourage considerate diets in regards to both unhealthy foods (sugar filled cereals) as well as food items advertised as healthy (fruit juices). Both can produce the same levels of tooth damaging acid and sugars that prove attractive to bacteria. Actions such as drinking milk with breakfast or eating cheese along with a sugary or acidic meal could help decreased the instants of tooth decay.
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