While we do not necessarily suggest eating sugary cereals for breakfast, a recent study found drinking a glass of milk after consuming these cereals may help ameliorate the effects on the teeth.
Researchers at the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Dentistry published an article in the Journal of the American Dental Association that investigated the effect sugar cereals have on tooth decay and if certain beverages would reduce the chances for decay after consuming carbohydrates.
Dry, sugar-added cereals combine sugars with starches which creates a potent carbohydrate that mixes with the bacteria in dental plaque on tooth surfaces to produce acid. That acid drops the pH in the mouth to acidic levels, raising the chances for tooth decay. The researchers had participants eat Fruit Loops and follow that with either milk, water, or apple juice. The results indicated that milk was the only substance that increased the pH to a more normal level than either water or apple juice. Water raised the pH slightly but not significantly while apple juice did not change the pH at all.
Apple juice is thought to be a healthy drink for children but consuming it after sugar cereals may actually be detrimental to oral health. This study found milk to be a better alternative as it helps return the mouth to a normal pH level, reducing the chance for cavities.
Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130731164718.htm
R. Eric Emery, DDS
Morgan A. Emery, DDS
Smile Station Dental
2901 Dougherty Ferry Rd, Suite 400
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-7100
smilestationdental.com
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