Everybody cannot help but love chocolate. However, only one type of chocolate is good for your oral health, and that is dark chocolate. While standard milk chocolate, and white chocolate are both popular, the best chocolate to consume for your teeth and gums is the darker variety.
Why Dark Chocolate Is Better
If you want to treat yourself to chocolate, it is best to bypass the other chocolates for dark chocolate. However, the reason is not so cut-and-dried. Other chocolates contain sugar and milk, which cause cavities. However, dark chocolate contains more chocolate or cocoa (about 70%). The other chocolates contain more sugar for sweetening. The best of the dark chocolates to consume are those with about 6 grams of sugar for each serving. Try to find a treat that is made with organic dark chocolate, if possible. Raw chocolate is even better, as it has not been processed as much and more of the cocoa's antioxidants are contained in the candy. The real chocolate used in dark chocolate provides polyphenols, or natural substances that limit bad bacteria in the mouth. Polyphenols are also known to neutralize bad breath and prevent oral bacteria from turning sugar into a cavity-forming acid.
Dark Chocolate's Cavity-Fighting Ingredient
Dark chocolate also contains epicatechin, which is a type of flavonoid compound. Flavonoids are plant-type antioxidants that are known to slow down tooth decay. While the tannins in dark chocolate can stain the teeth, they also prevent bacteria from sticking to the enamel. Dark chocolate contains about four times the number of antioxidants that are found in green tea. When high levels of antioxidants are contained in the saliva, your chances of getting gum disease are greatly reduced. As you can see, dark chocolate is a great treat to choose if you want to lower your incidence of gum disease, cavities, or infection. Just make sure you enjoy the candy in moderation, as the tannins in the chocolate can also discolor your teeth. Maintain a regular schedule of ongoing dental hygiene. Also, give our office a call about scheduling a professional cleaning and exam. If you have not done so already, call our office today about setting up a time for a check-up.
