NEW ORLEANS, May 21 An extract of cocoa powder found in chocolate, tea and other products might be an effective alternative to fluoride in toothpaste, says a U.S. researcher.Tulane University doctoral candidate Arman Sadeghpour says the cocoa extract was even more effective than fluoride in fighting cavities.The extract, a white crystalline powder whose chemical makeup is similar to caffeine, helps harden tooth enamel, making users less susceptible to tooth decay. The cocoa extract could offer the first major innovation to commercial toothpaste since manufacturers began adding fluoride to toothpaste in 1914, according to Sadeghpour.Although the extract has proven effective in an animal model, it could take another two to four years before the product is approved for human use and is available for sale, Sadeghpour says.Copyright 2007 by UPI
