Question: Is milk actually good for my teeth?

I’ve been hearing that calcium might not actually be good for your bones. Is milk not really good for my teeth, then?

Calcium has long been associated with making (and keeping!) bones strong, but a recent study by the British Medical Journal found that calcium intake caused a minimal increase in bone density, and found no correlation between calcium intake and fracture risk. Earlier studies have reached similar conclusions. So, does that mean drinking milk or getting other dietary calcium won’t lead to healthy teeth?

Well, it’s difficult to say. Your bones and teeth are largely made up of calcium and do need this element to be healthy, but weight, activity level, hormones, diet, environmental exposures, substance abuse, and genetics all also play a huge factor in your overall bone health. Also, many of the studies regarding calcium consumption are observational and correlation doesn’t always mean causation.

So, should you keep drinking milk? Yes, but it’s important to get your calcium from a variety of sources, especially from dark leafy greens and beans. It’s also important to exercise regularly and maintain an overall balanced diet, so don’t feel like you have to go overboard with your calcium consumption (unless your doctor says otherwise) in order to have healthy bones.