Eating Yogurt Reduces Tooth Decay Risk In Children

We all know that consuming dairy products (preferably low-fat and high quality ones) is very good for our dental health. Dairy products like cheese, milk, yogurt, butter, and others, are great natural sources of calcium necessary for normal development and maintenance of our teeth. It turned out that eating plenty of yogurt on a regular basis is a great solution for little children to lower their risks of suffering from dental problems like tooth decay and others. According to the findings of a recent study, eating yogurt at least 4-5 times a week can assist in reducing tooth decay risks in children. Those are the findings of a group of Japanese dental care specialists at Fukuoka University and the University of Tokyo, published a few years ago in the Journal of Dentistry.

The research in Japan involved analyzing daily diet and dental health of over 2,000 children aged 3 and above. The first part of the research included studying eating habits and daily diet of young children, by asking their parents to fill up the specially designed questionnaires. The second part of the study embraced analyzing dental health and dental problems in all the participants. The results have shown a clear connection between a regular consumption of yogurt and improved dental health. Thus, Japanese experts say that consuming yogurt 4 times a week can help in reducing tooth decay risk in children for as much as 22 per cent. It is interesting that the same connections were not established for consuming other dairy products like milk or butter.

The findings of the Japanese experts went into accordance with the results of another study conducted by a group of scientists in Australia. They experimented with placing extracted teeth of children into various dairy products, and they found out that yogurt was the only dairy product able to help preserve a good condition of tooth enamel and ward off tooth decay. At the same time, both studies failed to explain the reasons why exactly this product reduced the risks of tooth decay and decreases the need for fillings. There is a hypothesis that yogurt contains some substances which protect tooth enamel against the attacks of harmful acids or other substances, and lower tooth decay risks in children and adults.

A great deal of experts find these findings interesting and promising. However, some dental care specialists warn today’s moms against using yogurts with sugars or other additives which are actually harmful to tooth enamel and dental health of their children. According to Dr Nigel Carter, a Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, “It should be remembered that many yoghurts in the UK contain added sugar and it is well established that increasing the frequency of sugar containing foods and drinks leads to an increase in dental decay.” The expert also says that yogurt consumption in little children can lead to some dental problems and conditions due to a property of this dairy product to coat teeth. He recommends giving yogurt to little kids in the mealtime, along with other healthy foods.

Tags: Tooth Decay Risk In Children