Dental anxiety is not uncommon in children, or adults, so make sure you let your dentist know about the problem. But there is something you can do, too. You can give your child a creamy chocolate bar. And there's no need to worry about the following recipe harming your child's teeth, as it is tooth-friendly.

The Calming Secrets Behind The Chocolate Bar

The most powerful ingredient in your chocolate bar is the vanilla. You have to make sure you purchase organic and pure vanilla extract or oil for a stronger calming effect. Unaltered vanilla contains high amounts of vanillin, which is what gives vanilla that strong aroma.

This aroma will be picked up by your child's olfactory senses, which will affect the hippocampus area in the brain. This stimulation will help stop the production of cortisol, a stress and fear hormone. Vanilla also makes the hippocampus create serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps you feel good.

The other ingredient that should help calm your child down is the chocolate itself. Chocolate contains anandamide, which happens to be a precursor to serotonin. Not only does anandamide make the brain create more serotonin, but it also prolongs the positive effects.

Yet chocolate does not stop there because it also contains CBH. CBH helps distort the reproductive process of cavity-causing bacteria in your child's mouth. This ingredient is usually found in the bark of the cacao bean. So make sure you only use dark or raw chocolate, as those still contain the bark.

The Calming Chocolate Bar Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of raw cacao nibs or dark chocolate cacao nibs (no sugar added)
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
• ⅛ of a teaspoon of sea salt
• 3 tablespoons of raw, unfiltered honey

Steps:

1. Melt your chocolate in the microwave. This usually takes about 1 minute.
2. Mix in the rest of your ingredients when the chocolate has melted, and blend well.
3. Taste your the chocolate, and see if you need to add anything.
4. If you are pleased with the taste, place the chocolate mix in a candy mold.
5. Freeze the mix for at least 20 minutes.
6. Wrap it in parchment paper, and give your child some before going to the dentist. Make sure to brush before seeing the dentist!

This chocolate bar should last for a few weeks if kept frozen. As you can see, you can help your child's dental anxiety with a little chocolate. For more help dealing with kids at the dentist, contact a professional such as Myriam Cerezo DMD.