The cariostatic potential of cheese: cooked cheese-containing meals increase plaque calcium concentration

Abstract

RESEARCHdental caries reduced the enamel demineralisation caused by sucrose rinses. 3 More recently, a study of 179 children aged 7 to 9 years, showed that consumption of 5 g of cheese following breakfast for a period of 2 years was effective in reducing caries. 9 In one extensive dietary survey it was shown that children who were caries-free consumed significantly more cheese than children who were more caries-prone. 10 Cheese is a good gustatory stimulant of salivary flow: consumption of a lump of cheese following a sugary snack almost abolishes the usual fall in plaque pH which follows sugar consumption. 1,11,12 However, the gustatory effect of cheese on saliva flow only partially accounts for its cariostatic action because the caries-reducing property of cheese is effective in desalivated animals. 13 The calcium concentration of dental plaque is an important determinant of the balance between enamel de-and remineralisation because the rate of dissolution of the enamel hydroxyapatite is determined chiefly by the level of saturation with calcium and phosphate ions of the environment of the tooth. Increasing the calcium concentration of the environment of the tooth disfavours de-and favours remineralisation. The calcium, but not the phosphate concentration of dental plaque increase significantly following the consumption of uncooked cheese on its own. 1-3 These observations suggest that changes in the calcium concentration of plaque following cheese consumption are one measure of the effectiveness of the cheese in reducing enamel demineralisation. 14 Calcium would be expected to diffuse most readily into plaques with a low calcium concentration because the concentration gradient between saliva and plaque is greater than with plaques high in calcium. This possibility warrants investigation because individuals who are prone to caries tend to have low mean plaque calcium concentration 14 -so, if the calcium entering plaque from cheese is a factor affecting caries, cheese might be most effective on those most caries-prone.Evidence supports the theory that the release of calcium ions from cheese and the diffusion of these ions into plaque is a major cause of the protective effect of cheese, by preventing demineralisation or by promoting the remineralisation of enamel.The data reported on the cariostatic properties of cheese refer to the effect of uncooked cheese on its own, following a meal or snack. The aims of the present study were:• To investigate if cheese-containing cooked meals are effective in increasing plaque calcium concentration • To compare the relative effect on plaque calcium concentration of: cheese-containing cooked meals; cheese-free control meals; and cheese consumed alone • To compare any changes in plaque calcium concentration between Objective Eating cheese by itself increases plaque calcium concentration -which is probably one mechanism of the wellestablished action of cheese in reducing experimental caries. The objective of the present study was to determine whether consumption of cheese as p...

Assessment of the Effect of Selected Snack Foods on the Remineralization/Demineralization of Enamel and Dentin

“…[42][43] Such intra-oral model systems have been used to examine the remineralizing or protective effects of cheese or other dairy products. [44][45][46][47][48] The single-section intra-oral models have also been used to demonstrate protective effects of processed cheese when added as a snack to the diet of human volunteers. 11 The intraoral demineralization and remineralization model with human subjects was used in this study to evaluate the cariogenic potential of between meal snacks much in the same way as the model has been used to evaluate fluoride dentifrices and other therapeutic products.…”

Correlation and Odds Ratio between Circulatory Diseases and the Onset of Ocular Diseases

“…Impaired glucose tolerance and an adverse lipid profile are seen as early as childhood and adolescence, where they typically appear clustered together with higher blood pressure and relate strongly to obesity, in particular central obesity (76,78,125,126). Raised blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance and dyslipidaemia also tend to be clustered in children and adolescents with unhealthy lifestyles and diets, such as those with excessive intakes of saturated fats, cholesterol and salt, and inadequate intake of fibre.…”

“…Dietary factors which protect against dental caries Some dietary components protect against dental caries. The cariostatic nature of cheese has been demonstrated in several experimental studies (126,127), and in human observational studies (67) and intervention studies (128). Cow's milk contains calcium, phosphorus and casein, all of which are thought to inhibit caries.…”

Effect of Chewing Paneer and Cheese on Salivary Acidogenicity: A Comparative Study

“…1112 The same subjects were then asked to rinse thoroughly with tap water and the baseline pH was measured as described above. After this the subjects were asked to eat chocolate again and salivary pH was measured at 5 minutes.…”