Dental health, mighty muscles & milk

People run into many health problems as they reach adulthood; they could have easily prevented this by developing healthy habits such as drinking milk during childhood.

The 2006 National Oral Health Survey conducted by the Department of Education (DepEd) found that 97 percent of Grade 1 schoolchildren suffer from tooth decay. The oral problems continue as these children grow, with 78 percent of 12-year-old schoolchildren having dental caries. So what role does milk play here?

Released in 2005 was a clinical research summary on milk and oral health authored by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry. It described what many dentists have known for years: that milk helps build strong teeth and may help prevent tooth decay.

“Milk has the right ingredients for promoting dental health,” stresses Dr. Dennis Hobby, president-elect of the California Dental Association (CDA). “Besides calcium, milk contains multiple proteins critical for oral health, like casein which prevents cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to the tooth surface, as well as antibacterials that promote oral health overall.”

Furthermore, several recent studies from the US and Europe have all linked milk or dairy consumption with lower cavity experience when combined with a normal routine of oral hygiene.

“Milk is a great drink for teeth,” continues Hobby. “Along with brushing and flossing, drinking milk is an easy way of maintaining a healthy, beautiful smile.”

Good muscle growth in the early years help lead to children grow into fit and well-built adults. So every child needs a dose of muscle-building protein that is abundantly found in milk.

Muscle regularly breaks down after exercise, which is why active children need to supply their bodies with the right kind of protein to help their muscles recover fully. Casein and whey proteins that are found in milk help rebuild those muscles and make them contract properly to discourage muscle cramps.

Missing out on the strongest possible bones in childhood could haunt people decades later. By the age of 30, bones break down much faster than they are rebuilt. Then it’s a race to maintain bone and avoid the thin bones of osteoporosis in old age. So it is important to get calcium as early as childhood — especially calcium from milk and milk products.

The type of calcium found in milk is easily absorbed in the human digestive tract. This makes milk one of the best sources of calcium in the diet.

Aside from its function in bone growth, calcium has other roles in the body. It strengthens teeth and keeps gum tissue healthy. It helps maintain regular heartbeat, blood pressure and neural impulse transmission. Calcium works like antioxidants; it aids in proper blood clotting and protects cells from radical damage. Calcium also assists in neuromuscular activity and skin integrity.

With such a wealth of benefits, it pays to start your children into drinking milk for them to develop into healthy adults.