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Chocolate prevents tooth decay

Chocolate on a toothbrush
In July, I wrote a post about gummi bears being good for your teeth. They're not the only candy that promote dental health. It turns out that sugar-free chocolate may actually prevent tooth decay. Over the past years, medical research has proven that cocoa contains an anti-bacterial enzyme which helps to prevent plaque formation.

8 years ago, the BBC News had an article about a study done by researchers at Osaka University in Japan. The scientists discovered that the outer part of the bean, the cocoa bean husk (CBH), has an anti-bacterial effect on the mouth. But, before you run to your nearest chocolate shop, bear in mind that this part is usually discarded in chocolate production. They suggest putting CBH back into chocolate and possibly using it to create a mouthwash and tooth paste.

Just last year, Science Daily released news about research conducted at Tulane University by Arman Sadeghpour. Their research results showed that cocoa extract was even more effective than fluoride in fighting cavities. Now, I'm wondering what kind of chocolate we should purchase in order to reap these dental benefits.

Filed under: Health & Medical, Ingredients

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