Cheese, Nuts Might Help Prevent Tooth Decay

Which of the following sets of foods do researchers think might help prevent tooth decay? (a) cheese and pickles; (b) cheese and nuts; (c) pickles and nuts.

The answer: cheese and nuts, according to the Tufts University Diet & Nutrition Letter.

Aged cheeses - sharp cheddar, Monterey and jack in particular - reduce acid levels in the mouth when they’re eaten at the same time as, or right after, sugary food.

Animal studies indicate that nuts might interfere with production of plaque, a sticky deposit of bacteria and their byproducts that constantly forms on the teeth and which can lead to cavities. Also, chewing on nuts may help produce a lot of acid-neutralizing saliva.