A Hershey's Kiss

It's so depressing: "This snack will ruin your health. That dessert will clog your whatever." So here's some good news for us all. Chocolate may actually be good for your teeth. It contains tannins, a compound that helps prevent cavity-causing bacteria from sticking to the teeth and gums. When mixed with sugar, tannins reduce the bacteria that cause dental and gum disease. But don't let this good news fool you! After eating chocolate and other sweets, you still need to brush your teeth.

Even better news? Kissing has been linked to the prevention of tooth decay! Because it stimulates the flow of saliva that naturally buffers and neutralizes the acid produced by oral bacteria, kissing helps reduce the incidence of cavities. Saliva also washes out the mouth, and helps remove the cavity-causing food particles that accumulate after meals. So kissing is actually nature's cleansing process. Stuck for a partner? Chew sugar-free gum. It can stimulate the mouth to produce three times the regular amount of saliva.