It is well established that improving your diet leads to weight control, increased energy levels and overall health and wellness. Limiting the intake of certain food groups such as fats and sugars, or eating more of other food type, like fish and complex carbohydrates, can help you achieve this. However, you may not be considering the role your diet plays on the health of your teeth and gums. It’s considered common knowledge that a high sugar diet can lead to cavities and gum disease. However, what about the positive effect certain foods can have?
Dairy foods, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese are all known to contain calcium, which contribute to strong bones and teeth. However, it has recently been discovered that ingested yogurt can also help to prevent periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the chronic bacterial condition associated with gum disease that leads to receding gums, tooth loss and has the unsociable side effect of halitosis, or bad breath.
An interesting Japanese study headed by Dr Yoshihiro Shimazaki surveyed the daily diet and periodontal health of 942 men and women, aged 40 to 79 years. This published report from the Journal of Periodontology in 2008 concluded that yogurt and lactic acid drinks can significantly benefits in adult’s periodontal health. Those who had a high level of yogurt or lactic acid drinks in their diet showed the healthiest gum and less advanced periodontal disease.
This was still true after making adjustments for alcohol intake, smoking, frequency of dental hygiene, as well as age, gender and general health. Subjects that had more than 55 grams or more of yogurt or lactic acid drinks a day had significantly fewer signs of periodontal disease.
Dr Yohihiro Shimazaki attributes these findings to “the beneficial effect on periodontal disease might be based on the probiotic effect of lactobacilli found in lactic acid foods.”
Lactobacilli is a type of probiotic, or ‘good bacteria.’ It normally lives in small quantities in our gut, converting lactose and other sugars into lactic acid. The resulting acidity helps to prevent harmful bacteria that that would otherwise attack the teeth enamel and the gums.
Lactobacilli it is especially abundant to yogurt, due to the fermentation. Increasing your yogurt intake will contribute to the battle of the bacteria in your gut and can help to prevent gun disease.
In recent years, there’s been a big push on the dairy shelves for probiotic drinks and yogurts, but in reality any yogurt will have probiotics. Additionally, many yogurts and yogurt drinks have added sugars and sweeteners. While they do taste delicious, be aware of the sugar content as plain yogurt is just as beneficial for your gut.
Despite the systematic benefits of Lactobacilli, it is still one of the many bacteria that have been attributed to the formation of dental caries or teeth decay. Don’t forget to continue with your normal dental hygiene routine of brushing, flossing and mouthwash. And continue to enjoy your yogurt!