The Milk Factor In Healthy Teeth

All parents want their children to have beautiful smiles
showing off healthy teeth It’s a sense of achievement to know
they have raised healthy and happy children And good dental
health means looking after your teeth to prevent tooth decay and
gum disease
MOST parents are aware that one of the ways to keep teeth
healthy is by brushing regularly but what many are not aware of
is the important role diet can play in good dental health As
the saying goes “we are what we eat”
Adequate nutrition, particularly during the early years, is
important for tooth development, eruption and maintenance, as
well as for salivary gland function
Many mothers are not aware that most of a child’s teeth are
already formed by the time the baby is born So it is essential
for pregnant mothers to get enough of the required nutrients,
especially calcium This can be obtained from drinking milk or
taking calcium supplements
Young children also need lots of calcium to support the
continuing growth of their jawbones and permanent teeth How is
calcium contributing to strong teeth? First, as the teeth form
and mineralise, they need adequate calcium and phosphorus to
form a hard structure This takes place over a long period of
time Having an adequate amount of calcium and phosphorus during
growth is critical for healthy teeth
Recent research indicates that mothers’ food choices, by
influencing their children’s dietary habits, impact the eruption
of primary teeth during the first three years of life and future
development of dental caries
Second, calcium makes jawbones strong and healthy too Jawbones
need to be strong as they hold the teeth in place There is no
denying that milk is a good source of calcium and this is why
milk plays an important role in building healthy teeth
Other than calcium and phosphorus, milk also contains vitamins A
and D vitamin A is important for maintaining the mucous
membranes of the mouth and Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption
for healthy bones, teeth and growth of the jaws
Choosing the right food for children helps strengthen their
teeth but giving the wrong food too often will affect their
dental health Most parents can easily relate sugary foods to
tooth decay The decay process begins when the bacteria in the
mouth breaks down components of saliva These components adhere
to tooth enamel This is the start of dental plaque
Dental plaque is a clear, gelatinous material that allows
bacteria to remain on the teeth If dental plaque is not removed
frequently (at least once a day) by proper brushing and
flossing, the plaque becomes tightly attached to the tooth and
only mechanical cleaning can remove it
This is why frequent visits to a dentist and regular, thorough
cleaning by a dental hygienist is very important Inside this
dental plaque, the bacteria ferment dietary carbohydrates for a
food source This fermentation produces lactic and other acids
These acids demineralise the tooth enamel
As the tooth demineralises, bacteria move into the tooth, decay
begins and a cavity is formed Therefore, to reduce the risk of
tooth decay, it is important to minimise sweet and sticky foods
and drinks

Tags | adequate, calcium, children, development, healthy, pregnant, primary, salivary, source, supplements, teeth, tooth