It’s no secret that consuming dairy has health benefits such as strong bones, but experts also say that consistently eating dairy products promotes dental health. When it’s time for a snack, consider choosing foods like cheese, milk, and yogurt so that your next dental checkup will have you smiling.
How will dairy benefit my teeth?
Dairy is a great source of calcium, which is needed for optimum oral health. Calcium strengthens your jawbone, helping to hold your teeth in place. Loose teeth create gaps where bacteria can invade, leading to decay and infection. Another dairy benefit is that people who regularly eat these foods have fewer cases of gum disease. In fact, studies show that adults eating four or more dairy items daily had a 40 percent lower risk for gum disease than those who did not.
Is cheese the best choice?
Cheese is rich in calcium and Vitamin D, and low in acidity. Foods with low acid content have less chance of damaging your tooth enamel. Also, cheese stimulates your salivary glands to cleanse the mouth of food particles and further protect teeth from acids. This means that cheese disrupts cavities from developing.
What about milk and yogurt?
Like cheese, these dairy products also are high in calcium and provide the same benefits. Also both milk and yogurt have low acidity, helping to lessen the gradual wearing away of your teeth. Dentists report that not only can these dairy items protect the surface of your teeth, they can even reverse previous damage by helping to rebuild your tooth enamel. Plus, if you choose lowfat milk and yogurt, these are low in sugar and cause less tooth decay.
