Know that guilty feeling that creeps in every time you bite into a piece of chocolate? Turns out it’s all for naught. (Well, mostly.) Recent studies show that chocolate is actually good for your teeth – and your overall health.
It turns out that chocolate contains powerful antioxidants called polyphenols and flavanols. Polyphenols prevent bacteria from turning the sugar and starches contained in chocolate into acids that cause decay. They can help reduce the chances of hypertension and stroke and may even help protect the heart. Dark chocolate is particularly high in flavanols – and has more antioxidant power than green tea.
The cocoa butter contained in chocolate also packs a healthy punch. When you eat a piece of chocolate, the cocoa butter in it coats your teeth, preventing plaque from sticking to your teeth.
And what about the “butter” part of cocoa butter – should you worry about fat? Nope. This kind does not raise cholesterol.
Now for the Bad News ... Chocolate is high in calories; one 1-ounce piece of dark chocolate can contain 150 calories or more. So if you’re watching your waistline, you’ll have to control yourself. Plus, to benefit from chocolate’s goodness, all you have to do is eat three 1-ounce pieces of it a week.
3/12/12
The Impact of an Impacted Tooth
A tooth is considered impacted when it only partially grows through the gums. This can happen because another tooth blocks it, or it grows in crookedly. The third molars (or wisdom teeth) typically erupt from age 17 to 21 and are the last teeth to appear, which is why they are the most likely teeth to become impacted – there’s usually no room left for them.
Although an impacted tooth does not always lead to pain or discomfort, the impaction can cause other problems. A partially erupted tooth can create an opening in the gum where food and other particles can accumulate, leading to gum infection. Impacted teeth can also develop tooth decay, and they can also push on adjacent teeth, causing all your teeth to shift. For these reasons, it’s usually recommended to have wisdom teeth extracted before the age of 21.
The younger you are the better (and faster) the surrounding tissue and bone will heal. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the symptoms if you’re over 21, though. No matter what age you are, if an impacted tooth is causing you pain, soreness, sensitivity or inflammation, it is best not to ignore it. Better to get treatment than unnecessarily endure pain and discomfort! Persistent pain or an infection usually means the tooth will need to be removed. If you are having issues with your wisdom teeth, let us know and we can give you a referral to a recommended oral surgeon.
Although an impacted tooth does not always lead to pain or discomfort, the impaction can cause other problems. A partially erupted tooth can create an opening in the gum where food and other particles can accumulate, leading to gum infection. Impacted teeth can also develop tooth decay, and they can also push on adjacent teeth, causing all your teeth to shift. For these reasons, it’s usually recommended to have wisdom teeth extracted before the age of 21.
The younger you are the better (and faster) the surrounding tissue and bone will heal. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the symptoms if you’re over 21, though. No matter what age you are, if an impacted tooth is causing you pain, soreness, sensitivity or inflammation, it is best not to ignore it. Better to get treatment than unnecessarily endure pain and discomfort! Persistent pain or an infection usually means the tooth will need to be removed. If you are having issues with your wisdom teeth, let us know and we can give you a referral to a recommended oral surgeon.
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