Chocolate is one of the nation's favourite treats - but it has a reputation for not being the healthiest of foods. The amount of sugar it contains marks it out as a cause of tooth decay, risking an unpleasant trip to the dentist.
But, according to one expert, the situation isn't as clear-cut as it might appear. Dr Khaled Kasem, chief orthodontist of invisible orthodontics chain Impress, says some chocolate is good for your teeth, while others should be avoided to keep smiles looking their brightest.
Dr Kasem has shared his advice below to mark National Chocolate Week, which runs until October 23. Read on below to find out more.
Choose dark chocolate
“Eat all the dark chocolate you want. It might come as a surprise for a dentist to be encouraging you to eat chocolate, however dark chocolate is known to have many benefits and preventing tooth decay is one of them.
“Not only this, but it also helps to fight the bacteria that causes the sugar to turn into acid and contains strong antibacterial agents. The darker the better when it comes to choosing a dark chocolate, and it even helps prevent bad breath so it’s an all-round favourite treat for dentists.”
Be selective with your mint
“It might be better for your breath, but don’t be misled by minty fresh chocolate, it won’t give your teeth the same effect as when you use toothpaste. Eating milk chocolate that contains a hint of mint will still cause tooth decay, just the same as if you were to eat milk chocolate on its own.
“If you really want to enjoy the taste of some minty fresh chocolate, be a little more selective, and choose the highest percentage of dark chocolate as you possibly can. This will reduce the risk of damaging your teeth, whilst still allowing you to enjoy your favourite chocolate, guilt free.”
Say no to fruit
“Fruit is good for you, and an apple a day keeps the doctor away…right? Not when it comes to chocolate.
“Chocolate covered fruit (like fruit and nut bars or chocolate covered raisins) contain extremely high amounts of sugar in them - that’s because sugar is added to the fruit as it’s dried up to give it that taste we all know and love. As with anything with a high sugar content, it really is your worst nightmare when it comes to your teeth, as it will increase tooth decay and cavities, causing severe damage to your teeth. If you consistently overindulge on these sugary treats, you may even be at risk of losing your teeth.”
The most popular cause the most damage
“White and milk chocolate are the most popular choices, but these are the ones you should stay away from if you want to protect your teeth. White chocolate is especially renowned for its high sugar content and is the least nutritious of them all. Both, white and milk chocolate have a much lower percentage of cacao and you’ll find that the rest of the chocolate bar is made up of powdered milk and high amounts of sugar.
“The excessive amount of sugar in this kind of chocolate supports bacteria growth in your mouth. The bacteria turn the sugar in your mouth into acid, which then causes cavities and tooth decay, therefore damaging your teeth. It’s best to enjoy this chocolate as little and often as you can. However, if you really want to enjoy some white or milk chocolate, the best time to eat the chocolate is after dinner, with a glass of water, so that the other foods and water neutralise the sugars and reduce the risk of causing tooth decay.”
