With Halloween upon us are there benefits to eating those chocolate treats?
A study conducted on the properties of cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, found that the plant-derived proanthocyanidins (PACs) contained within cocoa offer oral health benefits. The PACs were found to strengthen dentin, the layer of tooth structure just under the enamel and which protects the pulp (nerve); however, the extent of this ability was impacted by the structure of individual PACs. This study was published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, and was part of several other studies conducted on chocolate and its internal components. Stay tuned!
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and be careful out there
James A Vito, D.M.D