Research emphasizes the significant bi-directional relationship between diet and oral health.
Poor dental health can hamper the ability to maintain a balanced diet, and unhealthy dietary habits can lead to deteriorating dental conditions.
In the context of dental-positive diets, dairy foods, including milk, cheese, and yogurt, play a pivotal role.
These superfoods are nutrient-dense, offering proteins, calcium, and other essential nutrients. Numerous studies link dairy consumption to improved dental health outcomes.
Plant-Based Alternatives and Dental Health
With the rise of plant-based alternatives, it is crucial to evaluate these substitutes in terms of their nutritional content and their impact on dental health. Studies often overlook these aspects.
A study by Shkembi and Huppertz in the journal “Nutrients” scrutinizes plant alternatives for milk, yogurt, and cheese concerning dental health.
Lactose, found in milk and dairy products, is less acidogenic and cariogenic than other sugars. In contrast, plant-based products often contain sucrose, glucose, and maltose, which promote poorer dental health outcomes than lactose.
Though plant-based drinks are often fortified to contain similar levels of calcium and phosphate as milk, the content varies across different brands and products.
Dairy products such as cheese, milk, and others aid in restoring minerals lost from the teeth due to consumption of other foods.
About 80% of total milk protein is caseins, which are associated with anticaries action. This could be attributed to their ability to adhere to tooth enamel, buffer acids, and the presence of casein phosphopeptides.
Other milk components like lactoferrin, lysozyme, and lactoperoxidase have antibacterial effects, contributing to milk’s anti-cariogenicity.
Tips for Dental Health through Nutrition
To ensure nutrition positively influences oral health, stay hydrated, limit added sugar intake, and follow the Australian dietary guidelines.
Milk is a healthy beverage choice, promoting good dental health. Regular consumption of high-sugar foods and drinks, like lollies and fruit juices, can lead to tooth decay.
If you care about dental health, please read studies about best food for tooth and gum health, and how to prevent and reverse gum disease.
For more information about dental health, please see recent studies about diabetes and gum disease, and results showing this diet could help treat gum disease.
The study was published in Nutrients.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
