Around Valentine’s Day, Easter, and other holidays, most of us end up consuming more chocolate than we would on a normal basis and asking ourselves, "is chocolate bad for our teeth?"
Is Chocolate Bad for Your Teeth? Let’s Find Out
Just as studies have shown that a glass of red wine daily can improve circulation and overall heart health in normal adults, results released just last year from the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study have indicated that eating chocolate on a daily basis over years can actually improve overall brain cognition. The study was conducted observing 968 participants over an 18-year period and the results indicated higher scores on various cognition tests in participants who consumed chocolate on a daily basis.
Is Milk Chocolate Bad for Your Teeth?
Milk chocolate is probably one of the most popular and widely consumed types of chocolate. Unfortunately, it is not so great for your teeth. Why you may be asking? The answer is simple. Milk chocolate contains more sugar than its dark chocolate counterparts and much more than raw and unprocessed chocolate.
Milk chocolate is a chocolate made from a combination of cocoa, powdered milk, and sugar. The breakdown is usually 20-30% real cocoa, with the balance consisting of sugar and powdered milk. The higher sugar content that is contained in milk chocolate can cause cavities and tooth decay more so than dark, raw, or organic chocolate.
Is Dark Chocolate Bad for Your Teeth?
Dark chocolate is by far the better choice when it comes to keeping your teeth healthy and cavity free. There are some studies that even suggest that dark chocolate can be a cavity fighter. Chocolate is made up of over 300 compounds and is a highly complex substance.
Dark chocolate contains polyphenols. These chemicals can help fight the overgrowth of bacteria and other organisms in the mouth. They can neutralize organisms that cause bad breath and they can prevent some sugars form turning into acid, which can break down the enamel of your teeth and cause tooth decay and cavities.
Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, which have been shown to slow tooth decay.
Dark chocolate also contains antioxidants. Antioxidants are beneficial to overall health in many ways but when it comes to oral health, having higher levels of antioxidants in your saliva has been shown to help fight gum disease.
Dark chocolate, otherwise known as “real chocolate”, is made up of around 70% cocoa and only 30% powdered milk and sugar. This drastically reduces the detrimental effect that it could have on tooth enamel when compared to milk chocolate.
Sugar Content at a Glance
Here is the breakdown of sugar content, per the USDA, for some of your favorite chocolate types:
White Chocolate: 17 grams per ounce
Milk Chocolate: 15 grams per ounce
Dark Chocolate: 14 grams per ounce
The numbers are not that different but over time the differences can pay a toll on your teeth, resulting in tooth decay, cavities, and more.
How Tooth Decay Occurs & How You Can Prevent It
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the mouth turn sugar into acids. Those acids eat away at surface of your teeth, causing decay and cavities.
Tooth decay occurs over time. However, it can be mostly prevented by cutting down on your sugar intake, watching what types of foods you eat, both sweet and savory, and ensuring that you are brushing and flossing your teeth on a daily basis. It also helps to visit your dentist two times per year to identify oral problems early and remove plaque and tartar buildup.
For this year’s holidays, go ahead and indulge. Just remember that, as with most things, moderation is the key.