When it comes to ensuring kids have healthy teeth, one question that often comes up is: “Do kids need milk to keep their teeth healthy?” At Innovative Pediatric Dentistry, we want your kids to have the healthiest, strongest smiles so let’s talk about where milk fits into a picture of healthy teeth.
Our award-winning Naperville dentists will tackle the question, “Is milk good for teeth and gums?” and get to the bottom of whether drinking cow’s milk is essential for maintaining healthy teeth in children.
Is Milk Good for Your Teeth?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the percentage of kids ages 2-19 with untreated or restored cavities is around 46%. Drinking milk can help your kids avoid tooth decay and cavities because it has nutrients for building healthy teeth and gums.
One thing to keep in mind, however, is that milk contains lactose — a sugar — which can sit on teeth and turn into plaque. The upside is that lactose results in less teeth-weakening acids than the sugar you’d find in sweet foods, drinks, and carbs. (BTW, test your knowledge of the worst, cavity-causing foods with this fun quiz!)
Our advice for getting the benefits of milk while minimizing the impact of its sugars? Swish with water after you drink milk, or pair it with veggies like crunchy carrots, broccoli, or celery, which act as tiny scrubbers that can clean your child’s teeth.
So What Are The Nutrients in Milk For Maintaining Healthy Teeth?
Cow’s milk naturally has calcium and phosphorus, nutrients that help build and maintain healthy teeth. The acids that happen as a result of your oral bacteria feeding off the sugars from your food weaken tooth enamel and attack the calcium in your teeth. So, it’s safe to say you need to consistently replenish that calcium.
Milk is one of your answers. Together with casein, a protein in milk, calcium and phosphorus help mineralize the enamel, strengthening teeth and making them more resistant to cavities and decay.
Milk is also fortified with vitamin D. As one of the key vitamins for teeth, vitamin D’s job is to regulate the absorption of calcium and phosphorus.
Getting Nutrients for Healthy Teeth If You Can’t Drink Milk
While milk is an excellent source of nutrients that support dental health, you may be wondering, “Do kids really need milk or can they get the vitamins for their teeth from other dietary sources?” For kids who can’t drink cow’s milk because of lactose intolerance, allergies, or dietary preferences, the good news is that you’ve got many cow milk alternatives that offer the same vital nutrients for healthy teeth.
Plant-based milk options like almond, soy, and oat milk are typically fortified with calcium and vitamin D and their amounts of teeth-building nutrients are usually pretty comparable. You can also find these nutrients for happy teeth and gums in dark, leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish.
Bottom line? Whether meals or snacks, at home or away, a varied diet rich in whole foods, colorful veggies and fruit, protein, milk or milk alternatives, and lots of water go a long way in healthy teeth and cavity prevention.
Other Vitamins for Teeth
Beyond calcium and vitamin D, vitamins A and C are also important for maintaining healthy gums and preventing gum disease. Vitamin A is added to cow’s milk and milk alternatives and is also found naturally in foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach. This vitamin also promotes saliva production, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria, contains calcium, and helps change an acidic oral pH to a more teeth-friendly pH.
And vitamin C? Vitamin C isn’t in milk but is abundant in citrus fruits and berries. It strengthens blood vessels and reduces inflammation, protecting the gums from infection.
Cavity Prevention Beyond Just Drinking Milk
Preventing cavities goes beyond just drinking milk. Encourage good dental hygiene (and make it fun!), like brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily. Limit sugary snacks and beverages, which can contribute to tooth decay, and promote a healthy diet rich in nutrients for healthy teeth. And of course, come see us at Innovative Pediatric Dentistry every six months for a check-up and cleaning so we can help your child’s smile sparkle!
