Until recently, most of us knew four ways of fighting tooth decay using a toothbrush, flossing, avoiding sugar and drinking fluoridated water. Even so, its frequently been a losing battle. Surprisingly, now Cheddar cheese comes to the rescue!
The cheese connection was made by scientists at the National Institute of Dental Research. They found that Cheddar cheese counteracts the negative effects of cavity-causing foods. But in order for the cheese to do its job, it needs to be eaten immediately following the intake of such foods. Apparently the scientists havent pinpointed the reason yet the cheese either has a negative effect directly on the acid that causes the decay or on the bacteria that produces the acid. The main bacteria that is responsible for decay is called Streptococcus mutans or S. mutans. The bacteria do their damage by creating acid that dissolves away the tooth.
The scientists at the institute came up with another startling discovery. Contrary to whats been thought all along, foods with large amounts of sugar may not be our worst enemies when it comes to tooth decay. In other words, the amount of sugar in a particular snack is not the critical factor. According to their findings, potato chips can be more cavity-promoting than caramels; cream-filled cookies and cupcakes do more harm than a plain chocolate bar, and some of the worst offenders are certain fortified low-sugar breakfast cereals. In addition, the frequency of eating sugars or starches, not the kind of sugar, is most responsible for the rate of cavities.
About the Author: Robin Westen writes about health for national magazines.
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