Sweet News for the Sweet Tooth – Chocolate is Good for Teeth

We’ve been raised from childhood to believe that chocolates are bad for us, that they give us cavities and make our teeth rot faster than they’re supposed to. Our mothers frightened us into brushing and flossing twice a day, especially after we indulged ourselves with a chocolate bar or two.

But times change, and with them, we now have news from the world of science that chocolate, the kind that’s made from cocoa, is good for you as long as it’s not too sweet or too sticky. If you’re asking how, here’s why:

  • Cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, is rich in anti-bacterial elements that help fight tooth decay.
  • Chocolate causes less damage to your teeth than other foods with the same amount of sugar because it’s not sticky and is easily rinsed off your teeth with saliva or water.
  • Chocolate contains tannins, a chemical which inhibits the action of bacteria that are responsible for causing cavities in your teeth. Tannins prevent the bacteria from sticking to your teeth and causing the damage that leads to cavities.
  • The fat content in the chocolate helps prevent or nullify the damage that the sugar content can cause.
  • An extract of cocoa that’s present in chocolate is more effective than fluoride in helping you fight cavities. It also helps harden tooth enamel and prevents tooth decay. Since fluoride has known to lead to the discoloration of teeth in children below the age of 6, this is being seen as a viable alternative to fluoride in toothpastes.

Remember, we’re talking about chocolate that’s made from cocoa, not the white kind or the candies that contain only sugar and coloring agents. Also, you must compulsorily brush your teeth after you eat chocolate so that the sugar is not left sticking to your mouth. Besides this, you have to be careful about eating too much chocolate as the dark color and rich texture could lead to the discoloration of your teeth over a period of time.

If you really want to eat chocolate and have healthy teeth, eat it at one go and then brush your teeth afterwards instead of nibbling on pieces throughout the day.