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LGG milk cuts caries
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A study conducted in kindergartens in Helsinki, Finland, was published in the Caries Research journal of dentistry on December 14th, 2001. It shows that regular consumption of milk containing the Lactobacillus GG bacterium decreases risk of caries.
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Lactobacillus GG (LGG) milk was given to half of the 594 children at 18 kindergartens in Helsinki, while the other half had ordinary milk. The children drank milk three times a day with meals at the kindergartens over a period of seven months. Average milk consumption was 2.6 dl/day. A dentist checked the children's teeth at the beginning of the study and afterwards. The amount of bacteria belonging to the Streptococcus mutans group that cause caries was tested using a dental plaque/saliva sample before, halfway through, and after the test period. Changes in the amounts of both cavity formation and harmful mutans streptococci during the period were taken into account in calculating the caries risk.
LGG group milk decreased caries risk in a statistically significant way (p=0.01) in just a seven-month research period. Caries was less common in the LGG group that also demonstrated decreasing streptococci mutans as the study proceeded. Risk fell by six per cent in the LGG group. The control group showed a four per cent rise in the risk of caries.
A higher intake of sweet drinks and frequent snacks increases risk of caries. Calcium and phosphor in milk and other dairy products help strengthen developing teeth. In fact, Calcium is the primary mineral in teeth and milk has been found to decrease caries. It is known that in laboratory conditions Lactobacillus GG prevents growth of the bacteria that cause caries. It does not form acid from sugar or lactose. This newly published study shows that the effect of milk in protecting teeth is intensified by LGG.
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