The Link Between Yogurt and Dental Health

Yogurt is a superfood, not just for your family’s overall health, but for their oral health too! Yogurt is becoming more popular than ever for people who are improving their diets and trying to eat healthier. There are many studies over the years that have all shown that yogurt is able to benefit our health in all sorts of ways. 

Yogurt and Dental Health 

Below are a few ways that yogurt can improve your dental health and your family’s as well: 

• Improves Gum Health – A recent study of 1,000 adults showed that those who ate the most yogurt had the healthiest gum tissue! This is because yogurt is full of probiotics, which are known as ‘good bacteria.’ This helps to slow the growth of bad bacteria in the mouth and on the gums. If bad bacteria are allowed to accumulate on the teeth, it can cause gum disease and other dental problems. 
• Strengthens Teeth – In addition to probiotics, yogurt also contains plenty of calcium to help keep your family’s teeth and bones strong. Calcium maintains the density of bones and is especially important during childhood when the body is growing faster than ever. Calcium also strengthens teeth by keeping the tooth enamel strong and healthy. 
• Fights Bad Breath – It’s been proven that eating around 6oz of yogurt every day reduces the compounds like hydrogen sulfide that cause bad breath. The probiotics in yogurt help keep the bad-smelling bacteria away. 
• Helps Balance pH Levels – The bacteria that cause dental cavities and tooth decay love acidic environments. Yogurt helps to balance the pH levels in your family’s mouths, creating a healthier mouth and a less-hospitable place for germs and bacteria to thrive. 

The healthiest type of yogurt to purchase for your family is plain, Greek, and sugar-free. We know this probably isn’t appealing to kids on its own. Try mixing in some fresh fruit or a small amount of honey. 

For more tips on keeping your gums healthy or to make an appointment with our skilled periodontist, please contact Coastal Periodontics today. Our office is located here in Portsmouth, New Hampshire serving surrounding areas including Newington, NH.