Do you wish you could drink from a chocolate fountain or consume all the cheese in the world without gaining a single pound? We can’t help you with these wishes, but we can help you with a healthier smile and guess what? Chocolate and cheese are two ways to aid you on the way to happy gums and teeth.
MMM…chocolate! If you love chocolate, you’ll be happy to know that it can actually assist in positively affecting your oral health.
“Chocolate, really?” Yes!
Dark chocolate has the compound CBH, a white crystalline powder that hardens tooth enamel and lessens your risk of tooth decay. Chocolate has always been believed to benefit our health. The Mayans and Aztecs believed cacao beans were magical, using them during birth and marriage ceremonies. More recently believed benefits range from treatments of diseases to fighting infection and aiding in digestion. Today, cacao nibs, dark chocolate, and raw chocolate are believed to be mood lifters that produce better blood flow in the body.
Cacao extract and the chocolate ingredient, theobromine re-mineralizes, and repairs damaged tooth dentin. One of the best ways to keep your teeth healthy is regular brushing. Brushing your teeth with cacao-extract toothpaste positively affects your oral health and is safer than using fluoride-based paste. Fluoride toothpaste can be detrimental to children. Fluoride is a chemical that can lead to health problems if ingested at a young age. The Mayans may have been right about the magic of Cacao.
Chocolate toothpaste? Yes, please.
Say cheese to a healthy smile! Cheeses like cheddar, Swiss and Monterey Jack along with other hard aged cheeses are great for preventing cavities.
When consuming cheese your saliva production increases. This increase works to wash off food particles that can stick around causing bacteria to grow in your mouth. Calcium-rich cheese strengthens your teeth and bones, lessening the risk of damage.
As an additional benefit, the protein, casein, found in cheese, neutralizes oral acids that break down gum tissue. Eating cheese means your chance of periodontal disease decreases. Why wouldn’t you want that?
Next time you want to order that cheese board don’t be afraid of the Gruyere and Manchego. You can smile knowing that all that deliciousness is working to prevent harm to the inside of your mouth. No wonder mice have such nice teeth!
While no one recommends copious amounts of cheese and chocolate, it’s nice to know that you can reap the rewards when consumed in reasonable amounts.
Brushing on a regular basis, chocolate toothpaste or not, helps keep that shining smile. Your teeth and gums will stay comfortable with scheduled visits to Cambrian Dental. We are proud to make you say cheese.
