Cariogenicity of different types of milk: an experimental study using animal model.

This study evaluated the cariogenic potential of infant formulas and cow's milk, using a high cariogenic challenge in the animal model. Sixty female Wistar rats infected with Streptococcus sobrinus and desalivated were randomly divided into 6 groups, which received ad libitum: 1) sterilized deionized distilled water (SDW) with 5% sucrose; 2) cow's milk; 3) Nan 2; 4) Nestogeno 2; 5) Ninho growth supporting; 6) SDW. Groups 1 and 6 also received essential diet NCP#2 by gavage, twice a day. After 21 days, the animals were killed and evaluated according to recovered oral microbiota and caries score by using a modified Keyes method. The analysis of the carbohydrates in the milk samples was performed using HPLC. The results were analyzed by Shapiro-Wilk and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Cow's milk had the lowest cariogenic potential compared to the other test groups, but it was not statistically different from group 6. The percentage of S. sobrinus obtained from the oral cavity of the animals was not statistically different among the groups studied, except for the SDW group. It was concluded that cow's milk was not cariogenic and infant formulas showed some cariogenic potential.