Core Tip: Researchers point out that after eating a breakfast cereal, only milk can reduce tooth acidity, mitigate the destructive effects of carbohydrates, and increase the oral pH level.
A new study shows that drinking a glass of milk after a sugary and starchy breakfast can prevent dental plaque formation, thereby preventing cavities.
Researchers at the University of Illinois conducted an experiment on 20 adults. After consuming 20 grams of breakfast cereal, the participants drank whole milk, pure apple juice, and tap water.
Before the experiment, 2 to 5 minutes after breakfast, and 30 minutes after drinking the beverages, the pH value of plaque on the participants' premolars was measured.
The results showed that after breakfast, the participants' oral pH value rapidly decreased to around 5.83. A pH value below 7 indicates acidity, while above 7 indicates alkalinity. The pH of pure water is generally 7.
The study also found that the group that drank milk showed the greatest increase in pH value, ranging from 5.75 to 6.48. The apple juice group's pH was around 5.84, while the tap water group's was 6.02. Researchers point out that after eating a breakfast cereal, only milk can reduce tooth acidity, mitigate the destructive effects of carbohydrates, and increase the oral pH level.
However, the researchers warn that although having milk with breakfast can reduce dental plaque formation and protect tooth enamel from decay, drinking a glass of juice afterward can be counterproductive and may instead increase the risk of cavities.