Expert says we've all been eating our advent calendar 'wrong'

Eating chocolate out of advent calendars this December could be bad for your health, an expert has warned.

Dr Khaled Kasem, Chief Orthodontist of invisible orthodontics chain Impress, says not tucking into festive calendars 'correctly' can 'ruin your teeth'. Most of us know that eating too much chocolate can be bad for our teeth, this is due to the high amount of sugar in chocolate that can lead to cavities and tooth decay.

But Christmas is one of the best times to be a chocoholic, so how can you tuck into your advent chocolate each day and protect your teeth? Dr Kasem has shared when the best time is to eat your advent calendar and which calendars are the best for your teeth.

He says that if people should eat their chocolate in the morning, they need to wait an hour before brushing their teeth. He said: "You might think that waiting till the evening to eat your advent chocolate is the healthier option.

"But, chocolate will give you a great mental and physical boost in the morning due to its caffeine and sugar content. It’s also packed full of flavonols, the antioxidant that helps to delay cell damage caused by the oxidants that we are exposed to daily from things like air pollution, cigarette smoke, and alcohol. Chocolate actually contains more antioxidants than green tea."

However, Dr Kasem warns people need to make sure they're waiting a good amount of time before brushing away after eating chocolate. The orthodontist added: "Waiting at least half an hour before brushing your teeth after eating anything containing acid or sugar to maintain strong enamel."

If you’re going through aligner treatment your teeth can be extra sensitive, so as well as waiting at least half an hour before brushing your teeth, make sure you give your mouth a good rinse with a glass of water after eating your chocolate to reduce the risk of causing any damage to your teeth.

In terms of what is the best chocolate to eat if you do enjoy having an advent calendar, Dr Kasem says opt for dark chocolate. He said: "Eat all the dark chocolate you want. It might come as a surprise for a dentist to be encouraging you to eat chocolate, but dark chocolate is known to have many benefits and preventing tooth decay is one of them.

"Not only this, but it also helps to fight the bacteria that cause the sugar 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."

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