Cheese consumption and the development and progression of dental caries.

Whereas research into the causes of dental decay has focused on the harmful relationship between dental plaque bacteria and foods, studies into the protective effects of foods have been infrequent and limited in number. Recent investigations showed that milk and cheese could reduce the effects of metabolic acids, and could help restore the enamel that is lost during eating. Postulated mechanisms involve buffering, salivary stimulation, reduction of bacterial adhesion, reduction of enamel demineralization, and/or promotion of remineralization by casein and ionizable Ca and P. Given this information, consumers may be motivated to use milk and cheese to reduce, or reverse the cariogenic effects of many other foods. (C) 2002 International Life Sciences Institute.