Got Milk? That is what the eponymous advertising campaign supporting American Dairy spouted to children who grew up during the early 2000s and 2010s. These commercials emphasized the crucial benefits of milk and dairy products for growing children and adults, particularly when it comes to the health of your bones and teeth. But what do dentists really have to say about dairy? Is it really as beneficial as we have been led to believe, or were these just marketing lies to sell cartons to kids? Here is the full dental perspective on the deal with dairy.
Benefits of Dairy for Teeth
The truth is there are a lot of benefits to your teeth that you can get from dairy products. There are a few reasons why dairy is beneficial to your teeth. Firstly, milk and dairy contain calcium, which is a critical mineral in your enamel, the strong, outer coating on your teeth that needs to be protected. Dairy also contains proteins that are called caseins, which also form protective layers around your enamel. Lastly, milk can function as a rinse after meals, flushing food and crumbs out of your mouth and sugar and acid off of your teeth to keep your smile healthier.
What the Nutrients Do
There are several different nutrients in dairy that work to give these benefits. As we mentioned earlier, calcium is a big player in the enamel strengthening and supporting properties of dairy and milk products. There is also phosphorus, another mineral which plays a role in the strength and stability of your enamel. Finally, it is the casein, a type of protein, which serves to coat your enamel for further protection. Milk also has plenty of other healthy nutrients that are great for your overall health as well, but these are the main components impacting dental health.
Other Options
If you are someone who chooses not to consume dairy, whether because you are a vegan, or someone who chooses to avoid eating animal products, or someone who is lactose intolerant, you may wonder what you can do without dairy for your teeth. Those with lactose intolerance do have a few different options, depending on how they want to approach the condition. You can take Lactaid pills, which dampen your body’s lactose intolerance, or you can avoid dairy and simply get calcium through multivitamins and other food sources.
Taking care of your teeth and dairy have long been linked, and for good reason. Now that you know how dairy impacts your dental health, you can make decisions as you see appropriate for your health.
Check out this article on how to repair a tooth that has been broken!
