The first few years of a child’s life play a crucial role in their growth, and teeth are no exception. A good diet and regular visits to the children’s dentist in Kapolei, HI, set the groundwork for a healthy, long-lasting smile.
Among essential nutrients, calcium takes the spotlight: it’s fundamental for strong bones and contributes to your child’s dental development. Here, we’ll explain how important this mineral is and whether or not drinking milk regularly can be enough to supply it!
Is Milk Good for Your Teeth?
You have probably heard that milk is good for your teeth and bones, and it’s true.
Milk is one of the most readily available sources of calcium, which is essential for early development when teeth are forming—and for maintaining healthy teeth as an older adult, too!
The American Dental Association advises children aged one to three to consume 700 mg of calcium daily, while children aged four to eight should consume 1,000 mg. Milk is a well-known source of calcium; just one serving can provide nearly a third of the recommended daily intake, making it an excellent way to support your child’s dental health.
Moreover, there are other ways in which milk protects your child’s smile:
Milk and Enamel Health
In addition to calcium, milk contains every mineral required for the growth and maintenance of dental structure. The casein proteins found in milk give tooth enamel a protective coating, reducing the chances of bacterial attack and lowering the chances of erosion and cavities.
Milk and Reminaralization
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 46% of children between the ages of 2 and 19 have cavities that have not been filled or repaired. Luckily, milk contains nutrients that help build healthy teeth and gums. In addition to calcium, milk is a good source of phosphorus and vitamin D, both of which strengthen teeth.
These nutrients ensure their smile remains strong and healthy and prevent tooth decay.
Milk and Cavity-Prevention
One of the downsides of milk is that it contains lactose, a sugar that can sit on teeth and become plaque. However, lactose produces fewer enamel-damaging acids than the sugars found in sweets, sugary drinks, and starchy foods. For this reason, milk is a much healthier option than sugary drinks and can lower the risk of cavities by neutralizing oral acids.
The Crucial Role of Calcium During Early Tooth Development
Like bones, children’s teeth are primarily made of hydroxyapatite, a crystalline structure composed primarily of calcium and phosphate. The tooth can be divided into three parts, all of which depend on calcium for proper growth:
- Enamel, the hard outer layer of the tooth, is about 96% mineral, mostly calcium phosphate.
- Dentin, the layer beneath enamel, also contains calcium, though it’s slightly softer and more porous.
- Cementum, which covers the tooth root, is another calcium-containing structure.
Calcium is essential during tooth development to form the strong, resilient layers that protect teeth from decay and physical damage. A child’s smile starts to develop during pregnancy, so proper calcium intake among expecting mothers is also fundamental for a healthy smile.
Sufficient calcium is also crucial to ensuring that both primary (baby) and permanent teeth erupt on schedule and develop properly aligned. Calcium supports healthy jawbone development, which allows teeth to erupt through the gums properly. A deficiency can lead to delays in eruption, misalignment, or abnormal tooth shapes.
Calcium is one of your biggest aids in the fight against bacteria. Your kid’s saliva is also rich in calcium and phosphate. Because it helps repair early enamel damage by re-depositing minerals, a lack of calcium can slow down this process, increasing the risk of cavities and erosion.
For that reason, a lack of calcium during childhood can lead to weaker enamel, increased risk of tooth decay, and developmental issues with both teeth and jawbones.
Other Vitamins for Healthy Teeth
In addition to calcium, several other vitamins are crucial for keeping gums healthy and avoiding gum disease.
- Cow’s milk and milk substitutes are supplemented with vitamin A, which is also naturally present in foods like spinach, sweet potatoes, and carrots. This vitamin helps convert an acidic oral pH to a pH that is more palatable to teeth and stimulates the production of saliva, which helps wash away food particles and bacteria.
- Vitamin D is crucial to properly absorb calcium. It supports the structure of your jaw and aids in maintaining appropriate bone density, which keeps your teeth firmly in place. Additionally, it can lower the chance of developing periodontal disease.
- Furthermore, the body needs vitamin K for healthy calcium metabolism. It facilitates the flow of calcium to the teeth and bones, keeping them healthy and resistant to decay. Along with vitamin D, vitamin K also improves bone density. Egg yolks, hard cheeses, and fermented foods like natto are good sources of this vitamin.
- Vitamin C isn’t found in milk, but it is abundant in citrus fruits and berries. This vitamin is renowned for its immune-boosting properties and prevents gum infection by reducing inflammation and strengthening blood vessels. It also promotes wound healing, which is especially crucial for active kids who might sustain cuts or other oral injuries.
Alternatives to Milk for Children’s Healthy Teeth
If your child can’t consume dairy, don’t worry. Plant-based substitutes like almond, soy, and oat milk also contain enough calcium to keep their teeth strong and healthy.
In addition to milk, you can improve their oral health by including other foods high in calcium for teeth, like leafy greens, almonds, and crunchy fruits like apples. Combine these with routine brushing, flossing, and other dental hygiene procedures for the best results.
Protect Your Child’s Growing Smile with a Children’s Dentist in Kapolei, HI
The secret to good oral health from infancy is a regular dental care routine, such as brushing and flossing daily and getting checked out every two years. However, your dietary decisions play a big role in your family’s oral health.
Milk and dairy products are great additions to your daily routine because they provide calcium and other minerals that significantly support oral health. If you’d like to learn more about protecting your smile, contact Kidshine Pediatric Dental Group!