Dental hygiene: This is why eating cheese and chocolate is good for you

Many of us tend to look for ways to restrict our consumption during the festive season but according to one doctor, foods that we thought were bad for us might actually be good!

Dr Navi Sangha, dentist at Bupa Dental Care, explains that cheese and chocolate, typically regarded as unhealthy foods, are rather beneficial for one's dental hygiene. So, with the holidays right around the corner get ready to indulge! In moderation that is...

The benefits of cheese on your teeth

The expert dentist explains that hovering over the cheese board during a family gathering over the holidays might actually very well improve the health of your teeth. He says:

Cheese has a number of benefits. Cheese helps balance the pH level in your mouth, which means less harmful acid, more cleansing saliva, and as a consequence, fewer cavities. A perfect accompaniment after your Christmas pudding!

The benefits of dark chocolate on your teeth

And what about that sweet craving you're sure to experience at one point during the night? As it turns out, there's a solution to that too and it involves munching on chocolate. Though not all types of chocolate are recommended, Dr Sangha believes darker varieties can be the best option to choose from when keeping your dental hygiene in mind. He explains that:

Choosing chocolate over sweets is a wise choice. Sweets, particularly the gummy variety, are almost entirely made up of sugar, and their consistency means that they can stick to your teeth, putting you at risk of cavities.

Before adding:

Dark chocolate is the perfect choice for a treat. It has less sugar than white or milk chocolate, and the consistency means that it will not lodge in your teeth and cause potential issues with your oral health in the future.