Eat Cheese, Prevent Cavities

How to prevent cavities: Brush... floss... swish with mouthwash... eat cheese? A study published in an academic journal called General Dentistry suggests that eating more cheese may protect your teeth from cavities, according to Science Daily.

A sample of 68 people ranging in age from 12 to 15 years old were randomly split into three groups. One group was given Cheddar cheese, one was given milk, and the last was given sugar-free yogurt — and all three were asked to consume their assigned food or drink for three minutes, then swish with water. Researchers then measured the pH level of each person's mouth at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after consuming the food and drinks.

Vipul Yadav, the lead author of the study, says a higher pH level above 5.5 means a lower chance of cavities forming. They found that for the groups given milk and sugar-free yogurt, the pH levels remained exactly the same, meaning the dairy had no effect. But for the subjects who ate the Cheddar cheese, the pH levels quickly increased at each time interval, suggesting that cheese has anti-cavity properties.

So cheese lovers can feel better about the amounts they consume. Does this mean we don't have to floss?