With many people now a few doors deep into their advent calendars, one dental expert wants to reassure those who have them that they aren’t damaging their health in the name of a fun Christmas tradition. Barty Walsh, a dental expert from Ordo, claimed these slivers of chocolate can actually be incredibly good for your health and even your teeth – but the little ones may need to take a step back despite being the main audience for advent calendars
The expert explained that advent calendars could be the “best way” to consume chocolate as it provides a very small serving size unlike chocolate bars or packets. Additionally, its caffeine content means it packs a mental and physical boost as well as a host of antioxidants from cocoa.
For all these reasons, Barty explained having your advent calendar for breakfast is the “best way”. He added: “You can wake up and eat your chocolate first, then brush your teeth for the day ahead.” However, he also recommended waiting at least half an hour between eating and brushing your teeth to help maintain the enamel on your teeth.
To make your advent calendar with even less of a guilty pleasure and more of a health boost, Barty shared a slew of tips: “Brush your teeth and floss regularly. Choose dark chocolate and look for ingredients that are good for your teeth such as nuts or mint. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water to rinse the mouth out.”
Dark chocolate is well known to have a myriad of health benefits and Barty pointed out this even extends to your dental health. He explained: “It helps to fight the bacteria that cause the sugars to turn into acid, and contains strong antibacterial agents. The darker the better when it comes to choosing a dark chocolate, and it even helps prevent bad breath so it’s an all-round favourite treat for dentists.”
Despite all of this good news for chocolate lovers, the expert did have a warning as adult teeth are far less vulnerable to the risks posed by chocolate than adolescent teeth. He urged parents to keep an eye on their children’s daily sugar intake if they’re taking part in advent calendars and have them brush their teeth regularly.