The annual costumed candy gathering is over. So now what to do with the mountains of decay inducing sweet stuff in the house? Not to worry. We have a plan for you. We are buying back the candy for $1/ pound on Wednesday, November 3 from 2-4 pm at our office, Valley Dental Works, in the Happy Valley Town Center. If you missed the details in our last article, go to our website, StaffordSmiles.net, and click on the blog link. There you will find more information and photos of the event from last year. I hope to see you this afternoon!

Sugar, as you know, often turns out to be a trick, not a treat as it causes tooth decay and other negative health consequences. But have you heard about xylitol? This is an artificial sweetener that not only does not produce tooth decay, but can actually reduce it. A recent study suggests that only 6 grams of xylitol a day are needed to prevent bacteria from causing cavities. To get the benefits of this product, look for it as the primary sweetener in the ingredient list for the gum or breath-freshening mints you buy.

Since products containing xylitol are somewhat uncommon in this country, here is a link to a company that sells xylitol sweetened gum and mints in case you have a hard time finding them in stores. www.epicdental.com. Epic makes it easy to get your 6 grams a day through their great-tasting, diabetic-friendly, and sugar free xylitol products! Check out their website. This is one of the easiest ways I know of to fight tooth decay.

Yours for excellent dental health,
Dr.S