{"id":1875,"date":"2015-06-25T20:32:00","date_gmt":"2015-06-25T20:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/chocolate-countdown-number-2-reason-to-eat-chocolate-that-you-never-saw-coming.html"},"modified":"2016-09-19T11:07:13","modified_gmt":"2016-09-19T15:07:13","slug":"chocolate-countdown-number-2-reason-to-eat-chocolate-that-you-never-saw-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1875","title":{"rendered":"Chocolate Countdown, Number 2 Reason To Eat Chocolate That You Never Saw Coming"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It’s good for your teeth? <\/span>

<\/span>There are some caveats here (see below), and some myths to dispel but the happy news is ultimately yes.<\/span>

<\/span>Follow @willclower<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n


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Chocolate and Your Teeth <\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/div>\n
Have you ever heard that you should not eat chocolate because it will \u201crot your teeth\u201d? It turns out that this is just a case of mistaken identity. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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Those high-sugar confections that masquerade as \u201cchocolates\u201d because they\u2019ve got a patina of chocolate schmear over the top of some species of wafer, nougat, or coconut cream whatever, certainly contribute to dental cavities. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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But the chocolate in this case is just a victim of guilt by association. The sugars cause the cavities, not the cocoa component.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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And the higher the cocoa content in your chocolate, the lower the sugar content. These two are reciprocal: when one goes up, the other comes down. This is great news for anyone worried about whether chocolate is eating away at their pearly whites.<\/span><\/div>\n

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<\/a>Plus, the news is even better than that. Not only will higher-cocoa chocolate be less likely to cause cavities, but your dentist will love you even more because it can prevent those cavities from forming in the first place! <\/span><\/div>\n

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Cocoa polyphenols can decrease the formation of biofilm on your teeth and also the production of acid by the streptococcus bacteria.<\/span>[1]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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Prevent it.<\/span><\/div>\n

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In a study conducted at the College of Dental Sciences and Hospital in Davangere, India, children were instructed not to practice any oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing, for 4 solid days! Can you imagine?<\/span><\/div>\n

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<\/a>On the morning of the 4th day, one group was given a \u201cchocolate mouthwash\u201d (actually, it was just a wash that contained cocoa antioxidants). The second group was given a placebo mouthwash with nothing in it. In the cocoa-mouthwash group, the bacteria decreased by 20.9%, compared with that in the placebo group\u2014and there was a decrease of 49.6% in plaque formation.<\/span>[2]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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<\/a>These results were replicated with white lab mice, which were fed white chocolate (with a whopping 35% sucrose). But one subgroup was given extract from cocoa powder. The researchers then looked to see which group ended up with dental cavities. <\/span><\/div>\n

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They found that the addition of cocoa powder extract blocked bacteria from causing the dental cavities that normally happen under these conditions.<\/span>[3]<\/span><\/span><\/span>The antibacterial source of the cavity-fighting yumminess comes from the cocoa bean husk.<\/span>[4]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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We seriously need this in our toothpaste. C<\/a>an you imagine someone marketing a \u201cchocolate toothpaste\u201d? <\/a>Totally counterintuitive, but also totally supported by the research. And, in lieu of Crest Choco-paste showing up on your grocery shelves, you might just stick with your high cocoa chocolate and smile!<\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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[1]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> GF Ferrazzano et al., \u201cAnti-Cariogenic Effects of Polyphenols from Plant Stimulant Beverages (Cocoa, Coffee, Tea),\u201d Fitoterapia<\/i> 80, no. 5 (July 2009): 255\u201362.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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[2]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> RK Srikanth et al.,<\/span> \u201cChocolate Mouth Rinse: Effect on Plaque Accumulation and Mutans Streptococci Counts When Used by Children,\u201d Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventative Dentistry<\/i> 26, no. 2 (June <\/span>2008): 67\u201370.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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[3]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> K Ito et al., \u201cAnti-Cariogenic Properties of a Water-Soluble Extract from Cacao,\u201d Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry<\/i> 67, no. 12 (December 2003): 2567\u201373.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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[4]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> K Osawa et al., \u201cIdentification of Cariostatic Substances in the Cacao Bean Husk: Their Anti-Glucosyltransferase and Antibacterial Activities,\u201d Journal of Dental Research 80, no. 11 (November 2001): 2000\u20134.<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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For more information: Click here to visit Will Clower’s website. <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s good for your teeth? There are some caveats here (see below), and some myths to dispel but the happy news is ultimately yes.Follow @willclower Chocolate and Your Teeth Have you … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[494],"tags":[260,270],"class_list":["post-1875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-cocoa","tag-teeth"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7Qv5g-uf","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5813,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=5813","url_meta":{"origin":1875,"position":0},"title":"Nutrition Month is 50 Shades of Crazy","author":"Will Clower","date":"March 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"OMG, whatever you do, do NOT eat chocolate! It gives you zits, makes you super fat, keeps you up at night because of the caffeine, rots your teeth, and while it's not doing all those terrible things to you it's helping your body develop diabetes. BTW, the bullet points in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Activity"","block_context":{"text":"Activity","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=528"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/chocolate-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2593,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2593","url_meta":{"origin":1875,"position":1},"title":"Sports Drinks Affect on Teeth","author":"Will Clower","date":"April 6, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Sports drinks, by definition, are marketed to sportsy people, and those who have aspirations to be sportsy people. Concerns are being raised, however, regarding this assumption -- because of their high sugar content, and dyes that give them their multiple Day-Glo color palate.This article reports on research (from the New\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1891,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1891","url_meta":{"origin":1875,"position":2},"title":"AskWill: This Valentines Day learn the difference between chocolate and “chocolate”","author":"Will Clower","date":"February 11, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Dear Will,\u00a0With Valentine\u2019s Day coming up I\u2019m a bit confused. Normally I\u2019d just get chocolates for my wife, knowing that they\u2019re a decadent, not-so-good-for-you treat.\u00a0But lately I\u2019ve heard that there\u2019s good chocolate and bad chocolate. \u00a0Now I feel like I could actually making wrong choice!Dear Confused, As the bearer of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/valentines-day-chocolates2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2616,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=2616","url_meta":{"origin":1875,"position":3},"title":"Chocolate Eating Lessons","author":"Will Clower","date":"February 5, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Eat the dark chocolate:As popular as milk chocolate is, it\u2019s the dark chocolate that\u2019s healthful.What gives chocolate its trove of amazing health properties is the cocoa itself. And, if you had to guess ... how many GRAINS of cocoa do you suppose there to be in standard chocolate confections, Kit\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1950,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1950","url_meta":{"origin":1875,"position":4},"title":"Chocolate and “fat bloom” … it’s not what you think","author":"Will Clower","date":"April 15, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"When you hear these two things together -- \"chocolate\" and \"fat bloom\" -- you're thinking ... oh I see, I eat chocolate and then my fat blooms.Actually, fat bloom is like sugar bloom in your chocolate. All it means is that either the fat or the sugar\u00a0crystallizes together and forms\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/ChocolateStrawberry.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1874,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1874","url_meta":{"origin":1875,"position":5},"title":"Chocolate Countdown, Number 1 Reason To Eat Chocolate That You Never Saw Coming","author":"Will Clower","date":"June 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Weight loss. Yes you do have to eat the right kind of chocolate, and no you can't over-consume it with a plunger.\u00a0But if you can manage those two issues (quantity and quality) then this is definitely the number 1 reason to eat chocolate, that you never saw coming!Follow @willclowerIf done\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/EatChocolateLoseWeight-180.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1875"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3895,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1875\/revisions\/3895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}