Chocolate Can Actually Be Good for Your Teeth

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Valentines Day is just right around the corner, and you're probably thinking about all the sweets you and you're loved ones will be enjoying. But did you know that chocolate is reported to be good for not only your heart, in moderation, but also good for your teeth? Theobromine is a compound in the cocoa bean, which has been shown to actually harden tooth enamel. According to the American Dental Hygienist’s Association (ADA) chocolate can inhibit Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria that cause cavities. Of course, if you want to enjoy chocolate for dental and overall health benefits, the darker, plain forms of chocolate are your best choices. Happy Valentines day, from Dr. David Babcock and your friends at Bluffdale Dental!

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Nutriton Information

Basic Nutrition Information important for you and your pearly whites! Everyone knows that a balanced, nutritious diet is essential to healthy living. But did you know that eating patterns and food choices play an important role in preventing tooth decay and gum disease, too? You may eat with your eyes first, but your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential for chewing and swallowing—the first steps in the digestion process. Your mouth is your body’s initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. So what you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. In fact, if your nutrition is poor, the first signs often show up in your oral health. Your individual nutrition and calorie needs depend on your age, gender, level of physical activity and other health factors, but according to MyPlate, a website from the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an agency of U.S. Departmen...

Here are a few ways to help prevent tooth decay...

You can help prevent tooth decay by following these tips: Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Clean between your teeth daily with floss or inter dental cleaner. Eat nutritious and balanced meals and limit snacking. Check with your dentist about the use of supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth, and about use of dental sealants (a plastic protective coating) applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (where decay often starts) to protect them from decay. Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral examination.

How much toothpaste are you using?

The bristles do most of the cleaning, so we’re actually overdoing it when it comes to toothpaste. All you need is a pea-size amount of fluoride toothpaste to get the job done. Kids younger than 6 should use even less—about the size of a grain of rice.

Bluffdale Dental

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