Chocolate no longer needs to be your guilty secret. Dark chocolate, as it turns out, can help prevent tooth decay. Before you reach for that Dark Snicker’s bar, it’s important to understand the difference between cocoa (one key ingredient in chocolate) and all the other sugary stuff that goes into candies and desserts.
Cocoa Beans Hold the Gold.
The cocoa tree is native to Brazil. Native cultures there were chewing on the beans as long as 5,300 years ago. The pulp of this chocolate fruit was fermented into an alcoholic drink, and the beans were even used as currency throughout Mesoamerica.
Cocoa beans are rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins. All three of these antioxidants benefit your teeth and oral health.
Polyphenols Reduce Inflammation, Freshen Breath, and More!
You may have heard about the health benefits of green tea. Well, like dark chocolate, tea contains polyphenols that reduce inflammation. Polyphenols also slow the growth of microbes, which can lead to better-smelling breath, among other oral health benefits.
Furthermore, a 2009 article published by the National Institutes of Health states that polyphenols may protect against oral cancer. Early research suggests that polyphenols may reduce the risk for developing gum disease and tooth decay, as well. Since gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss in the United States, and only 1% of the population avoid cavities, the wonderful news is, dark chocolate might need to be a regular in your diet!
Flavonoids Turn Back the Clock on Early Cavities.
Flavonoids encompass a wide range of plant chemicals known as phytonutrients. The nutrients are partly responsible for the bold and diverse range of colors we see in fruits and vegetables. Beyond dark chocolate, kale, tea, grapes, citrus, and parsley are rich in flavonoids.
The Australian Dental Journal and other publications report that flavonoids can aid in the remineralization of dental enamel. This is big news! Demineralization is the first step toward getting a cavity, and remineralization counteracts it – so more dark chocolate could mean fewer cavities. Can I get a hell yeah?.
Tannins Fight Bacteria and Inflammation.
Tannins have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Tannins also restrict blood vessels. This is one reason why patients are sometimes told to bite down on a tea bag to slow bleeding after a tooth extraction. Tea contains significant amounts of tannins. And guess what? Tannins are actually what give dark chocolate its bitter taste.
Not All Chocolate Is Good for Your Teeth.
The higher the level of pure cocoa in a food, the greater the oral health benefits. Chocolate (as we know it in the United States) typically contains very little cocoa. To enjoy the most benefits from polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, you should look for very dark chocolate that is at least 70 percent cocoa. If you can find chocolate that is 80 or even 90 percent cocoa — even better!
Cheap chocolate products often contain loads of sugar that can negate the oral health benefits of cocoa. Dessert creams, caramel, marshmallow fillings, nougat, and other common chocolate bar ingredients only increase your risk for tooth decay.
Try to stay away from milk chocolate and white chocolate. Milk chocolate contains low concentrations of cocoa, while white chocolate only contains cocoa butter, which has no oral health benefits.
When you find concentrated dark chocolate, go easy on it. Bars with even 80 or 90 percent cocoa concentrations will come with a fair amount of sugar in many cases. Chocolate also tends to be high in calories. The old adage “everything in moderation” is your best bet when weighing the oral health benefits of dark chocolate against those extra calories
Chocolate is also a known mood elevator. It tends to make people smile.
About the Author
Dr. Payam Asadi owns Advanced Family Dentistry in Tucson, where he provides general, restorative, and cosmetic dental care to patients of all ages. He holds degrees in both biochemistry and dentistry and is a member of the American Dental Association, Arizona Dental Association, and Spear Education. To reach Dr. Asadi, call his office at (520) 353-3002. Chocoholics welcome.
Recent Posts
Same day crown technology has made it possible for patients to get a crown over a tooth on the same day as their dental appointment. Crowns, commonly known as "caps," can treat a broad range of dental problems. They are used to treat decayed parts of teeth, replace a missing tooth as part of a…
An All-on-4® treatment can replace multiple teeth. This extensive procedure is for people who are going to have several teeth extracted. It is also for those who have lost many teeth already. Knowing all that you can about the teeth-replacement options available to you is important. If you want to know if an All-on-4 can…
A bone graft is a surgical procedure for correcting issues with bones or joints. It involves transplanting bone tissue to a deficient area and is beneficial for bones that are damaged or lost due to trauma or tooth loss. Advances in dental technique and technology have made the procedure easier and effective for stimulating jawbone…
Denture repair involves restoring broken dentures to like-new condition. Before the restoration, general dentists examine the dentures to check for various damage. Next, the dentist provides the lab technician with detailed instructions to ensure appropriate repairs occur. Following the exam, a patient's dentures undergo repair at a dental laboratory.Patients should never ignore their dentures if…