Effect of milk on caries incidence and bacterial composition of dental plaque in the rat

Cárie precoce: influência de variáveis sócio-comportamentais e do locus de controle da saúde em um grupo de crianças de Araraquara, São Paulo, Brasil

“…Saúde Pública, Rio de Janeiro, 22 (6) O leite contém também fósforo-proteínas que protegem contra a dissolução do esmalte e fatores antibacterianos que interferem com o metabolismo dos ácidos 35 . Diante disso, sugeriu-se que o leite assim como seus derivados são anticariogênicos, contanto que não lhes seja adicionado sacarose 36 .…”

Dietary advice in dental practice

“…1 Extrinsic sugars are more readily available for metabolism by oral bacteria than intrinsic sugars and are, therefore, potentially more cariogenic. 1 Due to the lower cariogenicity of lactose 18 and the cariostatic nature of milk, 21 sugars naturally present in milk and milk products are classified as 'milk sugars' and are distinguished from other free sugars or 'non-milk extrinsic sugars' (NMES). The sugars that are potentially damaging to dental health are the NMES and include all added sugars, sugars in fresh fruit juices, honey and syrups.…”

“…18 Milk also contains factors (calcium phosphate and casein) that protect against demineralisation of enamel. 21 Evidence from animal experiments strongly suggests that milk may be anti-cariogenic. Bowen showed that milk caused virtually no dental caries in rats from which the salivary glands have been removed (and which were therefore caries-prone).…”

The Relationship Between Diet, Nutrition and Dental Health: an Overview and Update for the 90s

“…A reduced incidence of dental caries over the 20 month study period was reported. Furthermore, addition of dicalcium phosphate to chewing gum counteracts the effect of sugar (Richardson et al 1972). However, studies in which phosphate supplemented sweets have been tested against unsupplemented sweets have found no protective action (Ashley et al 1974;Rankine et al 1989).…”