Could chocolate be good for our teeth?

It might be Halloween but we’ve got some news that is far from scary… chocolate might just be good for our teeth!

According to some research, the tannins, polyphenols, and flavonoids found in cocoa beans are all antioxidants that could actually help to fight tooth decay. Antioxidants are also known to reduce inflammation in the body, which could be beneficial in the prevention or reduction of gum disease.

Choose dark chocolate
This does, of course, mean that the higher the level of cocoa bean, the more effective… so dark chocolate is the best option to go for, and the darker the better! If you’re unsure how to tell, the front of the pack will usually show a percentage which relates to how much cocoa the bar contains. We suggest finding one that is 70% or above!

Some studies have even cited chocolate as being more beneficial for teeth than fluoride but at Mouth Matters in Chester, we’d definitely like to see more research into this before we change our recommendations. For now, please don’t use chocolate to brush your teeth, we’d definitely recommend a nice, minty fresh toothpaste containing fluoride instead!

Always in moderation
Even though this is excellent news for teeth, we feel it’s only fair to mention that we do not advocate eating lots and lots of chocolate every day! Chocolate still contains sugar and is quite calorific too, so your waistline won’t thank you for consuming too much of it. Instead, choose your sweet snack wisely, opt for a darker chocolate and eat it in moderation… a square or two won’t hurt!

This Halloween, why not treat the kids to some dark chocolate instead of its milk or white counterparts or sugary sweets, every little bit helps after all!