3 Best Sugar-Free Treats to Hand Out this Halloween

Americans will be spending an average of $27 per household on candy this year for Halloween, but with most candies leading to cavities and obesity, is there a better option?

Obviously, the treats have to be candy that kids love, so how do we minimize the dental damage in the treats we’re giving away?

One easy answer is to opt for sugar-free candy instead. Whether you want to hand out Reese’s Cups or caramels, Jolly Ranchers or gummies, these classic candies are all available in sugar-free variations. Discover the options for handing out sugar-free candy this Halloween and how you can be the house that preserves the teeth of kids in your neighborhood.

Advantages of Sugar-free Candy

• Kids typically don’t notice that it’s sugar-free
• Lots of available options
• Won’t cause cavities
• Avoids sugar crashes
• Less effect on their blood sugar
• Lower carbs and calories

Drawbacks of Sugar-free Candy

• Sugar alcohols in large amounts can cause digestive side effects
• Taste in some brands may be significantly different than versions with sugar

Best Types of Sugar-free Candy

Taste has to be a major consideration when choosing the best sugar-free candies. Popular brands that are recognizable to kids are also likely to be accepted quickly, regardless of lacking the sugar they’re craving. If you want to commit to providing healthier treats for kids in your neighborhood, then consider the following options they’re likely to love:

1. Russell Stover Sugar-Free Assorted Chocolates

While other houses are giving away basics like Tootsie Rolls, you can be the house that hands out decadent chocolates that kids will remember. The Russell Stover Assortment Bag comes with several of their most popular individually-wrapped chocolates. These include:

• Dark Chocolate Mint Patties
• Milk Chocolate Pecan Delights
• Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
• Milk Chocolate Coconut
• Milk Chocolate Caramel

Sweetened with Stevia, Russell Stover’s sugar-free chocolates will be some kids’ favorites, and they won’t cause cavities or widen their waistlines.

   2.  Werther’s Original Sugar-free Caramel Apple Hard Candies

Werther’s Original is arguably the most popular brand of hard and chewy caramels, and almost all of their flavors come with a sugar-free variation. While a caramel hard candy may sound boring, when you consider their flavors and the soft texture of their hard candies, you’ll see how Werther’s is an excellent option. This is especially true for their Caramel Apple flavor which combines two forms of sweetness into a smooth caramel that will appeal to many people – and won’t cause cavities for kids.

   3. Jolly Ranchers Assorted Sugar-free

Featuring apple, grape, watermelon, and raspberry, sugar-free Jolly Ranchers are one candy that has maximum taste with no sugar whatsoever. Each 4-piece serving is only 35 calories and each Jolly Rancher will typically last several minutes. With colorful packaging and bold, tempting flavors, Sugar-free Jolly Ranchers are an affordable treat that kids will love this Halloween.

Our Nashville Dental Team will Keep Your Smile Healthy

We know that most Americans are going to indulge in candy this Halloween – we’ll probably sneak a few pieces as well. By remembering to brush at the end of the day and drinking plenty of water throughout your Halloween celebration, you can minimize dental damage from any candy you consume. If you feel like something isn’t right with your teeth after Halloween, count on Dentistry of Nashville to provide the oral care you need. Contact us today!

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Root Canals – A Great Procedure with a Bad Reputation

In all aspects of life, sometimes a person, thing, or in this case, a dental procedure can earn a bad reputation. The root canal has earned such a reputation, perhaps because it used to be a more painful procedure. However, with our modern advancements, enhanced knowledge, and the reality that it’s a vital treatment, the root canal is actually an extraordinary treatment. Plus, it may be the only way to save your tooth. Take a minute and explore one of the most widely hated procedures, and see why it’s absolutely vital for some patients.

The Inner-Layers of Our Teeth

We’re all familiar with the outer layer of our teeth – we brush it, chew with it, and everyone sees it when we smile. But what many people don’t know is that there are other parts inside of your teeth that keep it alive. They include the pulp, nerves, roots, and even a section called the root canal which gives this treatment its name. When an infection spreads to these inner areas of the tooth, it can cause immense pain and may have to be extracted.

The Anatomy of a Tooth
Credit: WebMD, 2009

What Exactly is a Root Canal?

Essentially, a root canal involves removing all of the inner parts of a tooth that keep it alive, thereby eliminating the need for extraction. When faced with a severely infected tooth, the two most common choices are as follows:

1. Extract the tooth and replace the gap with a bridge or dental implant
2. Get a root canal and have a custom crown cover the damaged tooth

The option involving the root canal saves your tooth and spares you from the extra money and time required for a replacement. This is why root canals are beneficial to those who are in that situation -They may be the only way to prevent you from losing a tooth.

The Irony of Root Canals

The fact that root canals are such a dreaded procedure is an irony when you consider one of their most common uses. When patients enter a dental office complaining of severe pain to their teeth, often this pain is debilitating and is keeping them from focusing on anything else. Well, guess what procedure is most often used to alleviate this pain and provide relief? The root canal. The truth is that the root canal relieves far more pain than it ever causes.  

Root Canals are Nothing to Worry About!

Although root canals have developed a bad reputation, there is typically little pain involved in a modern root canal. When you arrive for your root canal treatment, your Nashville doctor will begin by administering anesthesia to numb the area. Anesthesia is extremely effective at Dentistry of Nashville and you can expect little to no pain during your procedure. Plus, it really doesn’t make sense that a root canal would be worse than more intensive surgeries, such as gum grafts or sinus augmentations – anesthesia removes the pain from these procedures.

Visit Our Nashville Team and Avoid the Need for Root Canals

A major part of preventing infection is showing up for your biannual appointments at Dentistry of Nashville. Only through consistent dental care can we remove the hardened tartar that develops on your teeth and stop dental problems before they get worse. While the root canal is an extremely useful procedure, our dental team in Nashville wants you to avoid the need for one as long as possible. Contact us to see how we can help your smile.  

 

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