Happy World Chocolate Day! We’ve put together a few tips to help you enjoy treats like chocolate and maintain good oral health.
1- Try dark chocolate – Dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa) is rich in antioxidants and contains less sugar than milk or white chocolate so it will be less damaging to your teeth.
2- Drink water after chocolate -Drinking water helps to wash away lingering chocolate on the teeth. Also, it increases the saliva flow in the mouth, which in turn works to neutralise the harmful acids produced by the sugar in the chocolate you’ve just consumed. Drinking water has many more health benefits, such as increasing energy levels, improving digestion, helping blood circulation, flushing out toxins and boosting your skin complexion. It’s a win-win!
3- Eat it all in one go- Try eating your chocolate after a meal! Don’t graze on chocolate constantly during the day because every time you do this, harmful acids produced by the sugar in chocolate attack the enamel on your teeth. Eating your chocolate all in one go minimises the time sugar lingers on your teeth, meaning it is less likely to result in tooth decay. The less time you spend exposing your teeth to acid, the better!
4- Good oral hygiene – Make sure you brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste – and wait at least 30 minutes after eating chocolate before brushing. This gives time for your enamel to re-harden after being softened by acids. If you were to brush your teeth straight after eating chocolate, you would risk harming the enamel further. Keep up other good oral hygiene habits, such as flossing, using Tepe brushes, and chewing sugar-free gum.
5- Keep up with dental checkups and hygiene visits -If you’ve been overindulging in treats on this World Chocolate Day and are concerned about sugar’s effects on your teeth, come and see us. One of our dentists will carefully check your teeth and gums, and our hygienist will carry out our state-of-the-art EMS Airflow treatment to quickly, comfortably and effectively get rid of plaque and staining, revealing a healthier, brighter smile. Prevention is the key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums this world chocolate day and every day!
6- Keep it cheesy – Eating a cube of cheese or drinking a glass of milk after a meal can help to neutralise the acids (from the sugar in chocolate).
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