It’s Monday, and some kids are still gorging on Friday’s haul of Halloween candy.
In fact, they might be eating the stuff for months, but a Crozet dentist hopes families will consider another option – donating their holiday haul to soldiers on duty overseas. Dr. Jennifer Rice offers $1 a pound to children who want to take part.
“Takes some of the candy off the streets so to speak.”
She’s been doing this for five years, sparing teeth and promoting better health:
“The mouth is the 5% of the body that takes care of the other 95%, and it counts what you put in it.”
The mother of two doesn’t want to spoil the fun. It’s okay to have treats, she says, and if you get a choice, milk chocolate is probably less damaging than candies that stick to the teeth or stay in the mouth for extended periods.
“If you’re going to eat sugar, just get it down the hatch, so I would say the ones that you hold in your mouth the longest – Jolly Ranchers—things like that are probably pretty bad.”
Of course brushing your teeth or even rinsing your mouth with plain water can reduce the risk of cavities, but nothing will stop the blood sugar spike that follows a candy binge, and that can spark behaviors that drive parents nuts.
“Sometimes a mom comes in with a sack of candy and just sets it on the counter and says, “I don’t care about the dollars, just take the candy, please.”
11-year-old Athena is a patient of Dr. Rice – and a trick or treat pro. She’s sure this year’s take will last a good, long time:
“Maybe about three months.”
But her mother, Svetlana, is hoping to minimize damage.
“I’m helping her to eat those candies, and we give it away when they sleep, so they don’t know.”
Getting rid of candy through the buyback program is increasingly popular, with about 3,000 dental practices taking part nationwide. Dr. Rice pays for an average of 300 pounds a year. Use this link to locate other dentists who can assist in bringing an early end to the Halloween candy binge.
