Yogurt intake might be helpful in improving oral hygiene, namely tongue coating bacteria and battling against Halitosis (bad breath).

Other studies have found that yogurt plays a role in the prevention and management of bowel disease and other gastrointestinal conditions. Another study showed that people who eat yogurt regularly might have a lower risk of cavities.Researchers from the Tsurumi University in Yokohama, Japan studied 24 participants who were told to maintain a diet free of yogurt as well as cheese, pickled vegetables and any other products that might contain streptococci and lactobacilli.
The participants then consumed sugar-free yogurt fermented with streptococci and lactobacilli twice daily between breakfast and lunch and between lunch and dinner for six weeks. Afterwards, the investigators analysed samples collected from the study participants' saliva and tongue.They found that 80 per cent of the study participants identified as having halitosis had lower levels of volatile sulfide compounds after eating yogurt every day as compared with the earlier two-week period when they did not eat any yogurt. The participants also had significantly less plaque and gingivitis as a result of their eating yogurt.
March 2005
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.