Good dental health is usually something people rarely think about, until it is gone. To live a life with good oral health, it’s important to live a lifestyle that promotes healthy teeth. Unfortunately, all the different types of processed foods that have worked their ways into our diets are now plaguing our dental health. In order to start shifting our diets to something orally healthy, making small changes is the best way to begin. Because sweets are so detrimental to our teeth, it makes sense to start incorporating some treats into our diets that actually help dental health, and dark chocolate has been found to be the sugary, dental-friendly indulgence for candy lovers around the world.
A “Sweet” Discovery
PhD. Arman Sadeghpor’s discovery of the cavity-fighting power in dark chocolates’ antioxidants and theobromine minerals was incredible for dentists and “sweet tooths” combined. Today, oral professionals like our Lake Monticello dentists agree that choosing to eat dark chocolate as a regular sugary treat is far healthier for your teeth compared to other types of candy, which we’ll cover below. In fact, some speculators are suggesting that the “CBH” compound (known to fight plaque) may actually be used in the future for mouthwashes and toothpastes.
Why Does Dark Chocolate Matter?
As local Lake Anna dentists, we understand that nobody wants to undergo corrective dental treatment that can possibly be painful or expensive. To help our patients prevent extra visits to our office, we highly recommend practicing preventative dentistry at home to improve your oral health and reduce your likelihood of tooth decay.
Preventative dental care means brushing and flossing regularly, while perhaps eating a diet low in grains and sugars. Those who are serious about improving their oral health may also choose to cut out other processed foods like chips and candy, which have been known to increase the likelihood of tooth decay and (in some instances) cause teeth shifting. At the same time, we understand giving up sweets all together is, well… boring. That’s why dark chocolate is such a great dietary resource for those who are trying to improve their oral health.
What Foods Should Be Avoided?
Although we could name a number of different foods that encourage tooth decay and cavities to form, there are three types that we’ll focus on today:
Sticky Candy: Have you ever popped a Tootsie Roll into your mouth, and couldn’t help but cringe at the way it clung to your teeth as you tried to chew? Sticky candies like Tootsie Rolls, Gummy Worms, and even dried fruit can destroy your tooth enamel.
Suckers: Palmyra, VA dentists agree that the longer your teeth are exposed to sugar, the more damage is done to your tooth enamel. For candy lovers, this means choosing to gulp down a King Size Reece’s during the movie previous is actually better (but not good) for your teeth, compared to calmly enjoying a lollipop throughout half the film.
Sour Candies: Sour candies are deliciously sweet and surprisingly sour, for a combination of flavor most sweet-lovers can’t resist. These popular treats have made their way onto our radar for their unique ability to cling to teeth, while simultaneously damaging enamel with the acidity of the sour flavors. In fact, candies like Sour Mike & Ikes have been known to cause a 92% more enamel erosion than regular Mike & Ike’s.
Being conscious about your oral health doesn’t have to be hard, boring, or difficult. In fact, if you learn how to balance your diet with natural sugars, whole foods, and quality proteins, you can enjoy delicious meals that improve your dental wellbeing. For more information about diet and dental wellness, contact one of our Lake Anna dentists today.