Love Your Teeth? Eat Chocolate!

Finally good news!  You can eat chocolate. The studies show that chocolate can help prevent tooth decay. Okay, maybe not all chocolate is the greatest, but it is still wonderful for those of us with a sweet tooth.

“Cocoa beans contain antioxidants that benefit teeth and gums,” says Dr. Judith Ko from her HemetValley Dental Practice. Tannins, polyphenols and flavonoids, all contained in chocolate, have been shown in studies to inhibit bacteria from sticking to teeth and to prevent gum infection as well.

While chocolate is good, the best chocolate is that which is closest to the natural form – which is the cocoa bean. This means that dark chocolate provides you with the most tooth protection. Look for dark chocolate that is 70 percent or more cocoa. Typically this is also the chocolate that contains a bit less sugar – another great reason to sweeten your day.