As the festive season rolls in and advent calendars start to pop open, one dentist is shedding light on the unexpected perks that might just tip the scales against the usual health warnings. With many Brits already indulging beyond the third door of their advent calendars, dental expert Barty Walsh from Ordo wants to put minds at ease, suggesting that this Christmas tradition isn’t as risky as some might think.
According to Walsh, those tiny bites of chocolate hidden behind each door could actually be a health boost for your teeth – though he advises that kids, the primary market for these calendars, might want to hold off on the daily chocolate treat. Walsh elaborated that advent calendars might just be the “best way” to enjoy chocolate due to their portion control, which is far more disciplined compared to munching on whole bars or bags of sweets.
He pointed out that the caffeine kick and the antioxidants found in cocoa can give you both a mental and physical uplift. For all these reasons, Walsh suggests that tucking into your advent calendar first thing in the morning could be the “best way” to go about it.
He added: “You can wake up and eat your chocolate first, then brush your teeth for the day ahead.” However, he also cautioned to wait at least half an hour after eating before brushing to protect tooth enamel.
Barty has dished out several nuggets of advice to transform your advent calendar from a guilty pleasure into a health-boosting habit: “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.”
He revealed the dental benefits of dark chocolate too: “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.”
However, Barty also cautions about the vulnerability of young teeth to chocolate’s effects, emphasizing the importance of parental vigilance over children’s sugar intake during the festive season and the necessity of regular teeth brushing.