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*Daskalidès and Chocolaterie Smet, two Belgian chocolate makers active in Belgium and abroad, will release a range of tooth-friendly chocolate – an innovation courtesy of chocolate producer Barry Callebaut. *

Barry Callebaut’s tooth-friendly chocolate has received the ‘Happy Tooth’ label from Toothfriendly International, a non-profit organisation dedicated to improving dental health, supported by dental associations from all over the world.

Dr Albert Bär, Director of Toothfriendly International, said: "We only give the Happy Tooth seal of approval to products that are guaranteed safe for teeth. All sweets that carry this logo have been scientifically tested by recognised and independent academic institutes for dental health. Their tests demonstrate that the product does not cause dental caries or tooth decay. The Happy Tooth logo helps consumers in their choice for tooth-friendly products.”

To make the tooth-friendly chocolate, milk powder is replaced by milk proteins and sugar is replaced by isomaltulose, a natural sugar that's found in small concentrations in honey and sugar cane.

Isomaltulose belongs to the sugar group and, just like refined sugar (sucrose), is composed of glucose and fructose. Isomaltulose differs, however, in its resistance to decomposition by oral bacteria and therefore doesn't cause an increase in acidity in the mouth, thus protecting the teeth from decay.

The Belgian company Chocolaterie Smet will release a series of four Hopla hollow figurines (Hopla, Lola, Nina and Onkie) made from tooth-friendly chocolate. The figurines are packaged in easily recognisable boxes of 85g (containing three figurines per box), with a colouring-in puzzle on the back.

Daskalidès’ toothfriendly, hazelnut filled milk chocolate bars are part of its new 'Health and pleasure' range. The 45g bars are available from all Daskalidès retail outlets.