Jones Smiles News Oct 2017

HOW TO DO THE LEAST DAMAGE TO YOUR TEETH THIS HALLOWEEN

Oil and water. Drinking and driving. Dentists and Halloween. There are some things that do not mix. But, what if we told you that most dentists go trick-or-treating with their kids and even sneak a treat or two from their kids’ buckets? Dentists know better than anyone else how unrealistic it is to keep people from eating extra sweets during Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas. But there’s a smart way to indulge in seasonal treats without seriously damaging your teeth. First and foremost, Halloween night might be the most important night of the year to brush your teeth. That should be obvious. Now that we’ve established that, let’s look at two candies that you should partake of sparingly, or just avoid altogether: Lollipops. When it comes to how bad something is for your teeth, frequency and length of exposure is more harmful than quantity. Theoretically, it’s better for your teeth to eat five candy bars than one sucker (it’s just not as good for your waistline). Lollipops will rest millimeters from your teeth for 10–20 minutes. Gummy worms. Besides being high in sugar, these candies, and really anything sour and gummy, are among the most acidic. Foods with a high acid content wear down the enamel of your teeth, regardless of how much sugar is involved.

Anything sticky. We’re looking at you, caramel. Anything you can’t eat with braces is probably too sticky for your teeth. Bit O’ Honeys and Tootsie Rolls are among the worst offenders.

On the other hand, some candies are much easier on your pearly whites:

• Dark chocolate

• Sugarless gum and other sugarless candies made with stevia or other sugar substitutes

• Candy bars with nuts

So, enjoy yourself, be deliberate about your candy, and remember that Halloween is game time for your toothbrush.

SAUSAGE AND BARLEY SOUP SMILE-FRIENDLY RECIPES

SUDOKU

It’s a great time of year to warm up with a cup of soup, and this comforting, guilt-free dish comes together in a flash.

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray • 6 ounces turkey breakfast sausage • 2 1/2 cups frozen bell pepper stir-fry • 2 cups water

• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can Italian- style stewed tomatoes, undrained and chopped • 1/4 cup uncooked quick- cooking barley • 1 cup coarsely chopped fresh baby spinach

Instructions:

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add sausage; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Remove from heat. 2. While sausage cooks, place stir-fry and 2 cups water in a blender; process until smooth. 3. Add stir-fry puree, tomatoes, and barley to sausage in pan. Bring mixture to a boil over high heat; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in spinach; cook 1 minute or until spinach wilts. Recipe courtesy of CookingLight.com.

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