Think chocolate is bad for your teeth? Think again—it may actually be beneficial. A study out of the University of Osaka Graduate School of Dentistry in Osaka, Japan found that after four days of rinsing with a cocoa flavanol extract without other oral hygiene methods (such as brushing or flossing) participants had decreased bacteria and plaque on their teeth.

Can you believe that? In the book Chocolate – A Healthy Passion, dietician authors Shara Aaron and Monica Bearden explores the many health benefits of cocoa, but also recipes for using chocolate in foods but also in bath gels, lip balms, facial masks and soaps.

Definitely something for the true chocoholic!

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Chocolate for Your Heart, Skin and… Teeth!

Xylitol has already been shown to reduce levels of the harmful mutans streptococci (MS) bacteria that are known to cause tooth decay and is actually already being used as the active ingredient in anti-cavity chewing gum. However such a product were not considered to be suitable for young kids. What’s a better product to use as a vehicle then? Gummy bears, what else!

The children in the study were given four bears three times a day, containing different concentrations of xylitol. The results show that after six weeks of gummy bear snacking, the levels of harmful MS bacteria in the children’s plaque was significantly reduced. According to Ly “Based on our findings, it is feasible to develop a clinical trial of a gummy-based caries prevention programme. Such a study is now being carried out in the East Cleveland primary school district (Ohio, USA).”

Photo Credit: Wiretap Studios via Flickr

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Cavity Fighting Gummy Bears

It seems like something everyone already knows, but that’s how regulation goes. Before any firm can write any health claim on their packaging labels, all these go through rigorous validation processes first. And in fact, not all fluoridated water qualify. According to the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and applied Nutrition, “the food eligible to bear the claim is bottled water [snip] containing greater than 0.6 and up to 1.0 mg/L total fluoride, and meeting all general requirements for health claims….”

The American Dental Association (ADA) applauds this development and also agrees with the FDA that this health claim is not intended for use on bottled water marketed to infants for whom lesser amounts of fluoride are appropriate.

Of course, you might not have to buy fluoridated water. There’s a good likelihood that your tap water also contains fluorine and is as safe and effective in preventing tooth decay. The ADA has a good resource page on fluoride and fluoridation.

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Fluoridated Bottled Water Prevents Tooth Decay