Keeping Chompers Strong: Dairy vs. Leafy Greens for Older Adults

I’ve wondered about the K2 thing too - how do you even know if it’s “working”? I tried adding natto for a while but honestly, the taste is rough. With the DEXA scan, did your doc say anything about tooth health or just bones? I keep hearing that what’s good for bones isn’t always the same for teeth.

I keep hearing that what’s good for bones isn’t always the same for teeth.

Yeah, that’s actually something I worry about a lot. DEXA scans are all about bone density, but they don’t really say much about your teeth or gums. Calcium and K2 are important, but oral health is a whole different beast - plaque, gum stuff, even saliva plays a part. I’ve seen people with great bone scans but still dealing with cavities or gum recession... Bodies are weird like that. Natto’s taste is wild though, I couldn’t stick with it either.

Man, I totally get what you mean about natto - tried it once and nope, not for me either. The whole teeth vs. bones thing is wild though. I used to think if I chugged enough milk my teeth would be set for life, but then I still got a cavity last year... go figure. Bodies really do their own thing sometimes. At least you’re paying attention to all this stuff, that’s gotta count for something, right?

Yeah, I used to chug milk like it was gonna solve all my dental problems too, but turns out genetics and flossing matter way more than I thought. Leafy greens are sneaky good for calcium and have vitamin K, which apparently helps bones and teeth do their thing. My dentist said cheese is a winner too, something about neutralizing acids? Still, feels like even with all that, cavities just sneak up... bodies are weird.

I totally get what you mean about cavities just showing up out of nowhere. I’ve been trying to eat more leafy greens lately, but honestly, I still get nervous every time I go in for a cleaning. Does anyone else feel like no matter what you eat or how much you brush, the dentist always finds “something”? I’m low-key worried that maybe I’m missing some secret step or food… Is there really a big difference between eating cheese vs. just drinking milk, or is it all just wishful thinking?