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HOW SUGAR REALLY AFFECTS YOUR TEETH
Thank you so much for spreading the word about Masterpiece Smiles.
Better Candy Habits Through Science Since we were small children, we’ve been told that candy is bad for our teeth. Our parents and dentists warned us that if we didn’t take it easy on the Halloween treats, we’d get cavities and need fillings. Why were Snickers and Skittles bad for our teeth? Because adults told us so. Now that we’re a little older, though, if we better understand how sugar affects our teeth, we can more intelligently adapt our eating habits — yes, even our candy-eating habits — to make our mouths happier. The first thing to understand is that sugar itself doesn’t damage our teeth. Rather, it’s the acids emitted from the bacteria that feed on the sugar that do the damage. There is no way to eliminate bacteria from your mouth (you wouldn’t want to, anyway) nor a mechanism to stop them from eating sugar. However, you can do a lot to limit how big and long their feast is. Exposure time makes a big difference when it comes to the rate at which bacteria convert sugar into enamel-damaging acids. Avoiding sticky candy and sugary gum, which are designed to hang around for a long time, is a smart move, as is limiting foods that include mostly sugar on their ingredient list. You can also eat fibrous fruits and vegetables like carrots or celery, sometimes referred to as buffer foods, to cleanse your mouth after eating something sugary or highly acidic. Dark chocolate, candy bars with nuts, and sugar-free gum are all excellent options for a little indulgence. Some sugar-free gum is even a net positive for your teeth. When sweetened with a natural compound called xylitol, gum encourages a neutral pH in the mouth, the worst possible environment for sugar-eating bacteria. The next time you’re at the pharmacy or supermarket, flip over a few packages of gum. If you find one sweetened with xylitol, it’s worth trying out. We bet you never would’ve expected your dentist to recommend gum when you were a kid!
CHOCOLATE-DIPPED FRUIT
This super easy and fun way to create homemade treats provides your kids with a healthier and more delicious alternative to packaged industrial candy. As a bonus, making it is an awesome Halloween activity for your family to enjoy. INGREDIENTS
•
1 package melting chocolate
• Assorted dried fruit, including apricots and mangoes
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. 2. Place a large, heatproof mixing bowl on top of saucepan so that no steam can escape. Place melting chocolate in mixing bowl and double boil until melted. 3. Dip half of each piece of fruit in chocolate before transferring to a parchment-lined baking sheet to rest. 4. Let cool for 10 minutes until chocolate solidifies. 5. Place in school lunches, serve at parties, and indulge in a few for yourself.
We hope you have a chance to enjoy some treats this Halloween. A little sugar in moderation never hurt anyone — but maybe don’t tell the little ones we said that.
Inspired by Food Network
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