Valentine’s Day is next week! With Valentine’s Day comes lots of heart shaped boxes filled with delectable chocolates. In fact, it is estimated that 58 million pounds of chocolate are consumed on Valentine’s Day; that’s a LOT of Valentine’s Days done RIGHT. As an Annapolis family dentist, though, Annapolis Dental Care wants to make sure that you’re buying and eating the right kinds of chocolate for this February holiday. Believe it or not, there is a type of chocolate that is actually good for your dental health!
You may have already heard about the benefits of dark chocolate (especially since this month is healthy heart awareness month and dark chocolate is a part of that). One that you may not have heard of, though, is that it can be good for your teeth! And no, not just “not bad,” but actually good. Research has shown that dark chocolate has cavity fighting properties and may even be better for your teeth than fluoride. There is a compound in dark chocolate called “CBH.” This compound may be a cavity-fighting superstar, adding to dark chocolate’s superfood name.
What we’re NOT telling you to do is to go overboard this Valentine’s Day. Stick to a minimal amount of chocolate (3-4 oz) and try to make sure that it is dark chocolate or pure chocolate rather than the sugary, overly processed milk chocolate variety. When you’re shopping for chocolates for your sweetheart this year, look for low calorie, low sugar dark chocolate. Your Annapolis family dentist and your teeth will both thank you. It is also a good idea to go ahead and get a routine checkup and cleaning shortly after Valentine’s Day to keep your dental health at an all time high and avoid cavities.
If you have any questions about our blog, How Can Dark Chocolate Be Good for my Dental Health, or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please contact Annapolis Family Dental Care by calling (410) 267-0766 or visit AnnapolisDentalCare.com today! Our diligent knowledge of all dental treatments and extensive experience in all fields of dentistry, ensure Annapolis Dental is best suited to care for your oral health. You can also follow Annapolis Dental Care on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Source: Chocolate: A Superfood for your Teeth
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_chocolate_is_eaten_on_Valentine’s_Day_in_America?#slide=2