Many of us consume chocolate frequently, especially during various holidays. The American Dental Association stated that Americans consume an average of 11 pounds of chocolate each year, which is more chocolate than nearly any other country. If you are a chocolate lover, you need to know how much chocolate is too much for your teeth. Here are some pointers for dental care for chocolate aficionados.
The Positives About Chocolate
Despite the disparaging comments from dieticians, chocolate can be good for you in small doses. Dark chocolate is better for you than milk chocolate or white chocolate because only dark chocolate contains flavanols, which are plant chemicals. These flavanols are proven to provide a lot of health benefits.
Harvard researchers who studied the effects of chocolate on the body found that dark chocolate acts as an anti-inflammatory. People who consumed small amounts in research studies saw a decrease in blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and insulin resistance. Dark chocolate can also reduce the chances of blood clots by improving blood flow.
Your brain may also benefit from dark chocolate and improved blood flow. People who consumed dark chocolate showed improved brain function.
Now, For the Negatives
While eating dark chocolate does have some health benefits, there are also some drawbacks to chocolate consumption, especially for your teeth. Chocolate, even dark chocolate, contains sugar. If it did not, it would taste very bitter. However, with that added sugar comes a lot of issues for your dental health.
Bacteria live in your mouth constantly. They help you digest food properly. However, too much bacteria is dangerous for your dental health. The bacteria in your mouth cause both cavities and gum disease. If you leave cavities too long, you may need a filling, or even a root canal, to fix your tooth. If your dentist can catch gum disease early, it can be cured quickly. However, if it is not treated quickly, gum disease cannot be cured - only treated. Those bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and carbohydrates. The more sugar you have in your mouth, the more bacteria can multiply and cause trouble.
Do you have questions about your oral health? Why not give our office a call today?
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Many of us consume chocolate frequently, especially during various holidays. The American Dental Association stated that Americans consume an average of 11 pounds of chocolate each year, which is more chocolate than nearly any other country. If you are a chocolate lover, you need to know how much chocolate is too much for your teeth. Here are some pointers for dental care for chocolate aficionados.