So how did your sweetheart do this Valentine’s Day? Are you wearing a new piece of jewelry, or are you glaring at a new vacuum cleaner wondering, “What was he thinking?” No matter what your Valentine got you this year, it could have been less romantic. According to the Japan Daily Press, one Japanese dental student decided to present her classmates with a lovingly crafted set of chocolate dentures. While your Milford dentists would never dispute the importance of tooth replacement (or the appeal of chocolate), even we think this is pretty weird. However, as it turns out, the young student may be on to something. While chocolate may not be the best way to replace missing teeth, it can actually be very helpful in protecting existing teeth.
Chocolate Like You’ve Never Seen Before
After Japanese Twitter user Matsumoto posted pictures of her chocolate dentures online, they went viral. Made of milk and white chocolate, the dentures are extremely lifelike, except for the unusually colored brown gums. Every cusp of the molars is in its proper place, and the chocolaty teeth are marred only by a chip in one of the teeth. However, instead of helping dental patients eat, these dentures have themselves been eaten. Matsumoto announced that she would be bringing her dentures to school to share with her classmates. She tweeted, “My folks don’t really like it!!! I’m bringing it to school tomorrow so everyone eat up!!!!” Now there’s a Valentine those students won’t soon forget!
Chocolate and Your Teeth
Ok, so chocolate probably isn’t your best option for dentures material, but it can be an excellent way to protect your dental health. Scientists have recently discovered that cocoa contains polyphenols and flavanoids that can help prevent the accumulation of dental bacteria that leads to plaque and bad breath. Additionally, chocolate contains a compound called CBH that helps to strengthen dental enamel. Strong enamel is immensely important because it protects the sensitive underlying layer of dentin, which is easily stained and highly susceptible to decay.
Now, munching away on a box of truffles is not the key to perfect dental health; chocolate candies are also high in sugars, which can cause decay. To truly provide the best protection for your teeth, dentists recommend raw chocolate or dark chocolate with 8 grams of sugar or less per serving. Raw cacao nibs also have a high concentration of CBH. Though you probably wouldn’t choose cacao nibs as a snack by themselves, they are excellent when mixed into yogurt (and you will get the added benefit of calcium to strengthen your teeth).
So how did your Valentine do? We’re guessing that, when you compare it to chocolate dentures, that new vacuum cleaner is starting to look pretty good.
To learn more about dentures and how you can protect your oral health, contact Sensitive Care Cosmetic and Family Dentistry at 203-878-6699. We provide the latest in implant technology to patients in Milford, Woodmont, Orange, West Haven, and the entire 06460 area code.