Return to search

Effects of chocolate milk on dental caries under mouth simulation conditions

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Dietary recommendations concerning chocolate milk remain controversial
since the effect of chocolate milk on the dental caries process is not clear.
Cocoa with antibacterial and enamel-solubility-reducing properties may inhibit
the formation of dental caries. Since chocolate milk contains a significant
amount of sucrose (about 5 percent) and some cocoa (1 percent),
laboratory testing of the cariogenicity of chocolate milk seems valuable.
The present study investigated whether or not under mouth simulation
conditions chocolate milk influenced the formation of dental caries compared
to white milk.
A control solution, four milk solutions and a milk solution with toothbrushing
were tested over a 20-week experimental period. A mouth-like environment
was established by constructing a mouth simulating device. One-hundred-
and-sixty-two-teeth were mounted in the mouth simulator in six groups
of 27 teeth each. Two independent evaluators had certified the teeth to
be caries-free and a computer program was used to ensure complete randomization
of the teeth in groups.
After initial sterilization by ethylene oxide, the teeth were inoculated
with a mixture of a culture of Streptococcus mutans and saliva. Each group
was exposed to one of the milk formulations for a 15 minute period twice
daily. After each period, a sterile bacterial medium was dripped (8 to
12 mls/hr) over the teeth in the mouth-like environment.
After 20 weeks the teeth were separated, coded, and re-evaluated
for pit and fissure caries by the same two evaluators. A statistical
analysis by Repeated t Tests indicated the presence of three levels of
relative cariogenicity: the chocolate milk group had the highest caries
rate, the control group and the white milk group were intermediate and
the chocolate milk with brushing group showed a marked reduction in
dental caries. The results of two other groups were invalidated.
In summary, for pit and fissure dental caries under the conditions
tested in the mouth simulating device, chocolate milk exhibited a significant
cariogenic potential relative to white milk, especially in the
early incipient caries stage.
It may be concluded from this study that in an individual with high
dental caries susceptibility, it would seem unwise to recommend frequent
ingestion of chocolate milk, unless proper and immediate oral hygiene
follows the ingestion.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:IUPUI/oai:scholarworks.iupui.edu:1805/4379
Date January 1976
CreatorsSimmons, Frederick H., Jr.
ContributorsKatz, Simon, 1920-1987, McDonald, James L., Koerber, Leonard G., Barton, Paul
Source SetsIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

Page generated in 0.0013 seconds