Getting Enough Calcium
Teeth need calcium for optimum health, the lack of which results in dental weakening. Iy manifests as the proneness of the teeth to breakage and the formation of dental caries. Adequate calcium is necessary to ensure the hardness of the enamel or the outermost layer of the teeth. Insufficient calcium intake inevitably results in teeth that are easier taken over by cavities.
The average adult requires 1,000 mg of calcium daily or 1,200 mg for men older than 70 and women older than 50. This amount can be easily obtained through food supplements, but it would be safer and less expensive to get calcium from natural sources such as dairy products, soya milk, beans, almonds, green leafy vegetables, and canned fish.
One study by New Zealand researchers found that calcium from food supplements tends to be less effective in strengthening the bones and teeth. Also, the reliance on supplements for regular calcium intake is associated with some health risks, such as kidney stones, increased possibilities of heart attacks, and acute gastrointestinal events. As a result, doctors nowadays usually avoid advising calcium supplement use and instead push for the natural sourcing of calcium through balanced diets.
