LK!
Candy Buy Back & Why Sugar Is Bad For Kids Nebraska Family Dentistry
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or the sixth consecutive year, all Nebraska Family Dentistry locations will be hosting an annual candy buy back in Lincoln from November 1–8. Kids can bring their extra Halloween candy to any of our offices and earn $0.50 per lb.
Why Do We Want To Buy Candy? Candy has a high amount of sugar, which can lead to cavities in kids. According to the latest research, sugar does more than just cause cavities.
How Much Sugar Is Too Much Sugar? According to a study by the American Heart Association (AHA), children as young as one to three years old already consume about 12 teaspoons of sugar per day. Older children consume even more due to hidden sugar in their diets. This is too much sugar. AHA recommends children ages 2-18 consume less than
six teaspoons of added sugar per day and none for children under two.
Why Is Sugar Bad? Simple sugar is pro-inflammatory and responsible for obvious problems, such as cavities. Sugar may also be responsible for more— research is showing some childhood allergies, asthma, eczema, behavioral issues, metabolic syndromes, diabetes, and much, much more have one underlying cause: inflammation caused by high intake of sugar.
What Is Inflammation In Kids? Inflammation in kids itself isn’t a bad thing. It’s a natural way for bodies to respond to stress or foreign particles. The problem is when it becomes chronic, and health and immune systems become affected. There is a strong connection between a kid’s high-sugar diet, their digestive system, and inflammation, all pointing to this important fact: a sugar-filled diet may lead to multiple health problems, ranging from
Changing Dentistry Changing
lives
eczema to behavioral problems to frequent colds and more. Dental decay is the most common childhood disease in the US. We know the health of the mouth can tell us a lot about a person’s overall wellness. At Nebraska Family Dentistry, we care about the well-being of kids. We want to help kids improve their overall wellness by helping them improve their dental health. Can caregivers minimize the risks of candy on dental and overall health? Yes, of course. Check out these four sweet tips on surviving candy overload: •• Choosing. Talk to your child about choosing the right candy. Hard, sticky candy that sits in the mouth for a while makes teeth prone to cavities. Instead, choose things like chocolate that dissolve quickly. •• Planning. Devise a plan that both you and your child have agreed upon to get rid of extra holiday candy. Let your children know that they can earn money by bringing in excess Halloween candy to one of Nebraska Family Dentistry’s five Lincoln locations during the first week in November—we pay $0.50 per pound! •• Timing. Teach your children that snacking on candy all day isn’t healthy. It’s better to pick a time to eat it. Eating candy around a meal high in protein is ideal as it increases saliva production. If that isn’t an option, eating candy any time is okay, just rinse with water or chew sugar-free gum after. •• Scheduling. We all know it’s good practice to see the dentist. Get your child scheduled for their check-up. Check-ups should occur every six months. Make sure your children
brush their teeth two times per day for two minutes, floss, and rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse.
Nebraska Family Dentistry Halloween Candy Buy Back Locations In Lincoln: East Lincoln: Preserve Family Dentistry, 4303 S 84th St South Lincoln: Southpointe Dental, 7940 S 13th St North Lincoln: Northstar Dental, 5800 N 33rd St Central Lincoln: Lincoln Family Dentistry, 5500 O St West Lincoln: Coddington Dental, 1320 W A St Editor’s Note: If you read this article after the Halloween Candy Buy Back Program already closed, there are other ways to help your children get rid of their extra candy, but do keep the program in mind for next Halloween. Ask a community center if they’ll accept candy donations for treats & snacks—some host birthday celebrations for children. Contact a nonprofit counselor or therapist who’s willing to use it in a treat bowl for their patients. Enter your zip code at soldiersangels.org to see if a local business is accepting candy donations for Treats for Troops, or you can ship them directly to the organization, which will disperse it to US troops stationed around the world. You can also save the excess candy to incorporate into baked goods for the upcoming holidays (check Pinterest for an endless stream of ideas). If all else fails, you can always throw away the candy that’s been cast aside. Although it may be wasteful, I think a healthy diet is more important. –LK
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