Does chocolate have benefits for teeth?

Dr. Arabella Michelén

Monday, September 23, 2019

Chocolate is one of the most desired sweets. Its raw material is cocoa. It is presented in many different ways: sweets, candies, biscuits, ice creams, cakes with attractive and eye-catching decorations that tempt even the strongest of mortals.

Cocoa is generally associated with desserts, but it is also used as an ingredient in savory dishes. The texture of chocolate is softer than that of chewing gum, mints and other sweets. This makes it easier to dissolve in the oral cavity and lasts less time in contact with the tooth surface, consequently reducing the likelihood of decalcification and the onset of tooth decay.

There are countless combinations of cocoa with other food products on the market, resulting in the variety of chocolates that consumers can enjoy today.

From traditional to white or dark chocolate, mixed with fruit or alcoholic beverages, in short, as many as your imagination can come up with.

Chocolate, like any food containing sugar, if appropriate measures are not taken regarding its consumption, oral health and therefore general health are affected. However, cocoa contains theobromine, an alkaloid with diuretic, stimulant and vasodilatory qualities.

This last feature helps in the health of the gingival tissue.

The ideal chocolate for consumption is dark, with a minimum of 60% of cocoa, of course, it contains less sugar, therefore the chances of adhering and decalcifying the dental structure are minimal, in addition to the fact that another benefit of theobromine is that it stimulates the remineralization of the enamel; studies compare it with the action of fluoride, that is, it prevents tooth decay.

The formation of bacterial plaque or biofilm is much lower when consuming dark chocolate.

On the other hand, patients who consume dark chocolate reduce the possibility of suffering from dentin hypersensitivity, due to the remineralizing action of theobromine.
Studies carried out in Japan attribute anti-cancer effects to it, since it is a natural antioxidant.

The above information breaks a generations-old myth that prohibited children from eating chocolate in order to protect their oral health.

Today, thanks to scientific advances, the benefits of cocoa are recognized.

Three golden rules are essential to take into account in order to enjoy good oral health:
1. Correct hygiene.
2. Healthy eating.
3. Regular visits to the dentist.

Next time you want to enjoy a delicious chocolate, please check the percentage of cocoa it contains for the sake of your health.