How Yogurt Can Improve Your Child’s Oral Health

Yogurt is a superfood, not just for your child’s body, but for his oral health as well! Yogurt is more popular than ever for people who are trying to eat healthy and improve their diets. Several studies conducted over the last couple of years have consistently shown that yogurt can benefit us in ways that go far beyond just digestive health.

How Yogurt Can Improve Dental Health

Below are a few of the ways that yogurt can improve the dental health of your family:

• Strengthens Teeth – Yogurt contains a lot of calcium, which helps to keep your child’s bones and teeth strong. This is because calcium helps to maintain the density in bones, especially during childhood, when the body is growing more quickly than ever. Once your child’s adult teeth have erupted, calcium will continue to strengthen teeth by keeping tooth enamel healthy and strong.
• Improves Gum Health – A recent study of 1,000 adults has shown that those who ate the most yogurt had the healthiest gums! This is because probiotics (known as ‘good bacteria’) are found in yogurt and will help to slow down the growth of bad bacteria in the mouth. If these bad bacteria are allowed to build up on the gum tissue, your child may develop gum disease or gingivitis.
• Helps Balance PH Levels – The bacteria that can cause dental cavities love a highly acidic environment. Luckily, yogurt can help to balance the PH levels in your child’s mouth, creating a healthier mouth and a less-hospitable environment for germs and bacteria to thrive.
• Fights Bad Breath – Eating six ounces of yogurt every day has been proven to reduce the compounds (like hydrogen sulfide) that can contribute to bad breath. This is because the probiotics found in yogurt help to keep the foul-smelling bacteria in check.

The best type of yogurt to purchase for your family’s health is sugar-free and plain. We recommend Greek yogurt, as it has the highest number of probiotics. If your children don’t enjoy plan, sugar-free yogurt, you can mix in some fresh fruit or a small amount of natural sweetener.

For more tips on maintaining your child’s dental health, or to make an appointment here at our Firestone, Colorado pediatric dental office, please call Firestone Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics today. Our dentists are passionate about keeping your child’s teeth cavity-free!