Whether it be a lifestyle choice, an intolerance to cow’s milk or just preference; plant-based milk alternatives such as soy, oat or almond milk have widespread popularity. So how might these alternatives affect your teeth?
We all know cow’s milk is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, which play an important role in the development and strength of bones and teeth. Although cow’s milk does contain sugar, it is in the form of lactose – a type of sugar that is not considered harmful to teeth with one caveat, and that is the timing of consumption, particularly before periods of sleep. This is unlikely to be an issue in adults but with young children, milk given at nap time or bed time through the night causes a continuous bathing of the teeth in milk and will cause tooth decay.
So, let’s take a look at plant-based alternatives. The good news is that many of them have been fortified with not only calcium, but vitamin D. And the possible downsides? Well, some plant-based milks can contain substances called oxalates and phytates which interact with the calcium and make it hard for your body to absorb it, so this should be kept in mind if you are choosing to cut out cow’s milk. The main problem is that the sugar in these alternatives are not like lactose and they do cause decay to teeth. They can be very high in sugar content and even ‘no added sugar’ versions of these drinks can have a surprising amount of sugar in them.
What do we recommend?
- The go-to milk choice of dentists and many healthcare professionals is cow’s milk, but the key is to restrict it to meal times only
- If you need or choose to drink a plant-based milk go for the ‘no sugar’ or ‘unsweetened’ versions. Always check the label for sugar content
- If your plant-based milk contains sugar you should limit the amount and frequency of consumption.
We are here to help
We understand there are a lot of choices out there for you and your family when it comes to diet and your dental health, so if you have questions or need more information please don’t hesitate to ask one of our healthcare professionals at Coppice View.
Mike
