FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts – Most people know that sweets and other food left on the teeth can lead to dental cavities. But there is considerable evidence that eating cheese can actually help prevent tooth decay, according to researchers from The Forsyth Institute. "Cavities are the most common infectious disease known to man," says Dominick P. DePaola, DDS, PhD, president and chief executive officer of The Forsyth Institute and the co-author of a review article on cheese and dental decay published in the current Nutrition Reviews. Cavities can lead to tooth loss and inability to eat properly-which, in turn, can result in nutritional deficits and, in severe cases, serious bodily ills. "It is important to prevent cavities," DePaola says. "And there is much evidence that eating cheese can help reduce the cavity-causing effects of other foods."

Cavities form when bacteria in dental plaque produce acids. The acids, in turn, break down tooth enamel, explains co-author Shelby Kashket, PhD, a senior research investigator at Forsyth. But consuming certain dairy products appears to reduce the buildup of those acids-and even to reverse their effects.

While the mechanisms are not yet clear, Kashket, DePaola and others postulate that some components of cheese stimulate increased saliva flow-which may prevent bacteria from sticking to the teeth or wash away acids the bacteria produce. Of even greater interest, Kashket says, is evidence that eating cheese helps reduce tooth demineralization and restore lost enamel.

The researchers say that eating cheese may benefit both children and adults. In older people, it may protect against "root cavities"-- that is, decay that can occur if the gums recede and leave the roots of the teeth exposed.

The investigators caution, however, that because many cheeses are high in fat, they should be consumed in moderation.

And, they emphasize, eating cheese should not replace regular brushing and flossing, which removes food particles and plaque, thus inhibiting the proliferation of bacteria on teeth and gums.

"Cheese Consumption and the Development and Progression of Dental Caries," appears in the April 2002 Nutrition Reviews. The research was funded by the National Dairy Council. For press copies, call The Forsyth Institute, 617-252-5200 x 276.

The Forsyth Institute is an independent research organization focused on oral and craniofacial science.

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