In this case there were only half the amounts of magnesium in the teeth. Second, it appears, according to this project, as in the Missouri research, that, calcium does not play a part in preventing caries, as is popularly supposed. In other words, the calcium requires stabilization, and magnesium does just that. Here possibly is a situation where, in the absence of magnesium, calcium can be a troublemaker rather than a help in preventing caries. Another proof that calcium does not prevent cavities is the fact that although the consumption of milk in the U.S. is high, so is the general rate of dental caries.
Milk is a food low in magnesium.
Bone meal, however, which we know is a cavities preventer, is very high in magnesium, because three-quarters of the body's store of this mineral is in the bone structure. Incidentally, the New Zealand researchers, who were aware of the worldwide fluoride controversy, went to the trouble of including a statement in their paper to the effect that the magnesium compound they used was fluoride-free. Only seven examples were given of the teeth of persons in this experiment who had received the magnesium compound because these were the only ones of the 200 cases that had had teeth extracted. As we said, this fallacy about calcium as a caries preventer will die hard. I am afraid I cannot help you further in this matter.