Chocolate lovers have long known that their favorite confection is not so great for their health, but over the years, studies emerged showing health benefits of dark chocolate, which is to say, candy with a cacao content of over 70%. For example, dark chocolate contains powerful antioxidants that help to fight harmful free radicals in the body.
Dark chocolate has been linked to reduced risk of heart disease (and related conditions like high cholesterol and hypertension), cancer prevention, and even improvements to cognitive function. You’d be hard pressed to find another sweet treat that offers all these benefits.
It gets even better, though. It turns out that recent studies have also begun to show the oral health benefits of dark chocolate. You probably assumed that all chocolate was bad for your teeth, but dark chocolate may actually help to improve oral health. Here’s what you should know.
It’s Antibacterial
Compounds found in the husks of cocoa beans have been shown to have antibacterial properties. This means that even milk chocolate could be considered “good” to a degree. Unfortunately, milk chocolate also contains a lot of sugar, which counteracts any potential positive effects related to the cacao content.
Dark chocolate, on the other hand, features much higher cacao content and far less sugar. For the greatest benefits, you’ll want to look for 70% or higher cacao paired with 6-8 grams or less sugar per serving. If you’re curious about white chocolate, you should know that it doesn’t have any cacao, only cocoa butter, which means you miss out on any potential oral health benefits offered by darker chocolates.
It Strengthens Enamel
One unique property of dark chocolate is a compound called CBH, and it has a chemical makeup similar to caffeine. This compound has been found to strengthen tooth enamel, in turn helping to keep harmful bacteria from entering teeth and causing tooth decay, cavities, and other serious oral health issues.
It Bolsters Gum Health
Remember those antioxidants we mentioned above? They’re not only great at fighting free radicals in the body, but they also help to protect the health of your gums. When saliva is high in antioxidants, it has greater power to fight gum disease, including extreme oral health issues like gingivitis and periodontitis.
Just remember: everything in moderation. Before you start inhaling dark chocolate like it’s going out of style, you should know that doctors recommend no more than 3-4 ounces per day. For many people, however, this is enough to satisfy a sweet tooth.
