This may sound crazy, but it is true! Chocolate is actually better for your sensitive teeth than any fluoride toothpaste you may be using. The American Dental Association (ADA) conducted a simple test comparing the effects of fluoride toothpaste and toothpaste containing a chocolate extract on teeth. Surprisingly, the test results showed that the chocolate extract toothpaste repaired teeth better and faster than the fluoride toothpaste.

What causes Sensitive Teeth?

The only way to reverse your teeth sensitivity is to first understand what is causing it. The exterior layer of teeth called enamel surrounds a much thicker layer called dentin. And several nerve endings run through the dentin layer. When you consume certain foods, beverages, and medications, you unknowingly wear down your enamel and expose more and more dentin. Thus, the sensitivity you experience arises from exposed nerve endings in your dentin. With that, the only solutions you have are to alter your eating habits, use oral agents that temporarily fill the holes in your enamel, or use oral agents that permanently repair your enamel. Fluoride toothpastes are capable of repairing enamel, but not as effectively as cacao-extract toothpaste.

Theobromine—better for sensitive teeth than Fluoride

Chocolate is made from cacao, which contains an extract called theobromine. When theobromine was added to toothpaste and study participants brushed their teeth with it twice a day, their teeth enamel remineralised at a greater rate than brushing with fluoride toothpaste. The researchers also discovered that theobromine goes beyond remineralisation to protecting your teeth from acid erosion by bacteria. This added benefit helps prevent cavities.

Does Fluoride really fight cavities?

There is no hiding it. Fluoride has been added to toothpastes, mouthwashes, other dental treatments, and even drinking water—all in the name of fighting cavities. However, another study questions if fluoride is as effective as once thought. Scientists found that fluoride forms an extremely thin layer on your teeth equivalent to one ten-thousandth of the thickness of one strand of hair. This minuscule layer is all fluoride offers to protect enamel; and unfortunately, the layer quickly diminishes with chewing. So, fluoride most likely does not stick around on your teeth long enough to protect them.

Fluoride: The widely accepted toxin

Despite the media’s attempts to illustrate fluoride as safe and even essential for dental health, the science behind fluoride says otherwise. Fluoride is a toxic chemical that is dangerous enough when applied to your teeth in toothpaste, but it can be more harmful when ingested in the body in drinking water. Like any other toxin, fluoride is capable of accumulating in your body tissues and developing a number of medical conditions such as:

• Vision problems including blindness
• Increased tumour and cancer growth
• Genetic damage and cell death
• Impaired thyroid function
• Reduced immunity
• Muscle disorders
• Bone fractures
• Bone cancer
• Dementia
• Arthritis

Children are especially susceptible to Fluoride

Giving your children regular or candy-flavored fluoridated toothpaste is very dangerous, because it is often responsible for children’s greatest exposure to fluoride. And fluoride has been linked to reducing IQ in children. Therefore, provide your children with non-fluoride toothpaste. Or if you prefer to use fluoride toothpaste, do not give them more than a pea-sized amount for brushing. Children commonly swallow toothpaste by accident, so supervising them while they brush is a good idea. For more ideas on avoiding fluoride toxicity, you can always ‘Ask a Naturopath’ at Mr Vitamins.