Chocolate and your teeth at Easter

Easter is upon us and with it an ever growing demand for all things chocolate. From classic Easter eggs to chocolate face masks, there are different gifts to suit every taste.There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a chocolate treat but make sure you don’t forget about your teeth and your family’s teeth this Easter. Too much sugar isn’t just a precursor for bad oral health, it set’s the tone for bad overall health and wellbeing.What you’ll be pleased to hear is that a little chocolate can actually be a good thing, particularly if you stick to dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage (70% and above). Studies have shown that cocoa butter can actually stop plaque sticking to our teeth. Chocolate is also high in antioxidants and contains a high level of tannins - which again help stop the buildup of plaque.Chocolate also contains CBH (cocoa bean husk extract), a compound that, in research carried out in Japan, has been proven to strengthen enamel, another factor which can help reduce tooth decay.These benefits only come with a good quality chocolate. Cheap chocolate will be full of sugar and it’s this you want to avoid as its detrimental effects to oral health will outweigh any benefits that chocolate might have.Chocolate doesn’t always have to be the star of the show. A little chocolate mixed with something else is a great way to enjoy a treat in moderation. Try chocolate-dipped strawberries or this recipe for ‘chocolate bark’ which mixes goji berries, puffed quinoa and sea salt with dark chocolate.We’ll be enjoying a square or two this Easter and we think you should too. If you follow these three steps you can do it in a way that won’t have to feel guilty about:1. Stick to dark chocolateLook for the chocolate that has a high cocoa percentage. Raw chocolate is also worth trying and is now readily available in most supermarkets. Try to avoid milk chocolate and particularly white chocolate with it’s high sugar percentage.2. Enjoy in moderationDon’t go crazy on the chocolate consumption! It’s easy at Easter to over-indulge and while a small treat is fine, gorging on chocolate isn’t healthy.3. Remember to brushIt should go without saying but make sure you remember to brush your teeth twice a day. If you have kids, it’s especially important to reiterate this to them at Easter time.Have a great Easter and we look forward to seeing you soon!If you’d like to find out more about oral health why not pop in next time you’re passing, or give us a call on 01752 661361