Drinking milk after breakfast reduces plaque

Milk is one of the best sources of calcium and the study reaffirms the belief that drinking milk after a meal can also help because it neutralises the acids and re-mineralise the teeth after eating.

The frequent consumption of sugary foods and drinks exposes teeth to longer periods of acid attacks and weakens the enamel. While some experts have labelled breakfast as the most important meal of the day, research group Which? discovered 12 out of 14 cereals we know and love contain worryingly high levels of sugar. Even cereals perceived as healthy are somewhat contradictory, also containing high levels of sugar.

The UK in general has developed a very unhealthy food environment, making it even harder to improve dietary habits.  Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: "It is important to remember is that it is not the amount of sugar you eat or drink, but how often you do it. A sugary breakfast once a day might not cause significant damage to your teeth on its own. It is the snacking culture that seems to have developed throughout the day that is harmful.

"As a result, the Foundation recommends eating three square meals a day instead of having seven to ten ‘snack attacks'. If people do snack between meals, choose foods and drinks that do not contain sugar. Chocolate, biscuits, cakes, dried fruit, soft and fizzy drinks, along with squashes are all high in sugar, which can lead to decay or damage the enamel on the surface of the tooth.