The best choice for maintaining healthy teeth while indulging in sweets, when compared to other candies, is chocolate. This is because other candies, such as gummy worms and lollipops, are either too sweet, acidic, or sticky.
Milk chocolates: The two types of milk chocolate are traditional and European. Traditional milk chocolate contains more sugar and milk and less cocoa. European milk chocolate, on the other hand, has a smoother texture because it contains more cocoa butter and milk fat.
Dark chocolates: This type of chocolate can be semi-sweet, bittersweet, or extra dark. They are not that sweet and are made of moderate to high amounts of cocoa.
White chocolate: Although it is made of cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids, it bypasses the key processes to make regular brown chocolate.
Flavored/infused chocolate: Some chocolates can be made with special herbs and spices. Some can also be infused with various nuts, fruits, and cereals. This adds a kick to the texture/taste of the chocolates.
Vegan chocolate: Made of plant-based chocolates, such as cocoa and soy milk.
Organic chocolate: The cocoa is farmed with no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. This type of chocolate contains organic cocoa beans, raw sugar, milk, and natural flavors.
When considering which chocolate to avoid or be cautious of, consider the amount of sugar added. You should also be cautious of chocolate with sticky ingredients such as caramel and hard nuts.
We tell the patients who love to eat chocolate at our Worcester, MA, office to rinse their mouths with water or chew on sugar-free chewing gum after eating chocolate. Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss once a day, and use mouthwash to mitigate the effect of chocolate on the health of your teeth. Visit your dentist every 3-6 months for professional cleaning and an oral cancer exam.
