DENTAL HEALTH...SAY CHEESE!

DENTAL HEALTH…SAY CHEESE!

Mar 26, 2017 News

By Dr. Neromini Fagu
Just before you give that winning smile you hear the words: “Say cheeeeeseee”. A healthy smile embodies your overall health, and taking care of that smiles require work on various fronts. You need to ensure you do your part at home with your daily regimen of brushing and flossing as well as visiting your dentist regularly for check-ups.
Another component to a healthy smile is what you put into your body. Certain foods are needed to strengthen teeth and bones and ensure healthy gums. One such food source is dairy products including milk, yoghurt and cheese.
According to the International Dairy Foods Association, the making of cheese dates back over 4000 years. It is not known who first discovered cheese but tales have it that it was accidentally made by an Arabian merchant who kept his milk in a sheep-stomach pouch as he travelled in the desert. The lining of the pouch and the heat of the sun caused the milk to separate into curd and whey.
There are around 2,000 varieties of cheeses that are produced all over the world mainly from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and buffaloes. Cow’s milk is the most widely used milk for making cheese and the ratio of milk used for cheese production and cheese yield is ten to one. In some countries camel, yak, reindeer, elk, and donkey’s milk are also used in cheese production.
Some of the varieties of cheese include:
Cheddar: A semi-firm cheese with flavour ranges from rich and nutty to extremely sharp.
Mozzarella: Widely used for pizza and lasagna.
Brie: Soft, creamy and mild tasting.
Camembert: A creamy cheese similar to Brie.
Gruyère: The classic fondue cheese.
Feta: Made in Greece from sheep or goat’s milk.
Mascarpone: An Italian cow’s milk cheese that has the consistency of clotted cream.
Roquefort: A type of blue cheese made from ewe’s milk and aged in the famous caves of Roquefort, France.
Cottage, Cream and Ricotta: “Unripen” cheeses with a short shelf life.
Cheese is an excellent source of calcium which is needed for strong bones and teeth. It’s also packed with Vitamin D, which helps our bodies to absorb the calcium,along with folic acid, zinc, phosphorus, and Vitamins A, B2, B12, and K2.When consumed together with calcium, vitamins K2 and D3 are especially usefulat protecting your bones, brain and heart.
Cheese also contains casein which is a protein that when combined with phosphorus and calcium help to replace lost minerals in teeth. In addition, it has conjugated linoleic acid, a proven anti-cancer agent and a booster of metabolism.
If you are still not sold on the benefits of cheese, then listen to this: According to a study from the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), cheese can protect your pearly whites from the damages of acid erosion which affects your enamel. Our mouths naturally have a slightly acidic (low) pH, and when we consume foods or drinks that drive that pH level even lower, it affects the enamel of the tooth. When the pH level is below 5.5 the potential for tooth erosion increases, putting you at risk for cavities.
Normally, saliva acts as a neutralizing agent and restores pH levels in the mouth after we eat, and some foods like cheese can assist in the pH-boosting process. Eating cheese has also been found to stimulate saliva production, and the various compounds found in cheese adhere to tooth enamel thus protecting them from acid attacks.
Not everyone can consume dairy products due to the lactose content. For those who are lactose intolerant, there are products on the market that are lactose free. However, the variety and choices may not be as diverse. Another option is to use alternatives such as goat cheese which seems to be more tolerable to those who may be lactose-intolerant.
So the next time you get a craving for a snack, instead of reaching for a carb-filled or sugar-filled snack why not grab some cheese. It is a healthy alternative that will do the body good as well as help to prevent cavities.

For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News