Most kids know that assembling the perfect Halloween costume is only half the fun. The other half, of course, is getting the candy.
Depending on the tenacity of the children, a single night of trick-or-treating can yield pounds and pounds of candy. That's why dentists across the Salt Lake Valley are offering to buy back trick-or-treat candy, with the going rate $1 a pound.
West Jordan dentist Jeffrey Brown says his office will not only buy back candy, but also offers free examinations and X-rays to kids who bring in their leftover loot.
"I'm all for kids going out and having a good time, and of course that includes eating candy," said Brown, who collected about 30 pounds of candy last year and donated it to the Festival of Trees. "But after that most kids save their candy and parents eventually throw it out."
Instead, why not let kids benefit financially, asks Corinne Torrence, Brown's office administrator, who is in charge of the dental office's buy-back program. "I had a woman call yesterday who was so excited about the idea of selling her kids' candy because they have Type 1 diabetes."
Jon Campbell, of Millcreek's Legacy Dental, also offers to buy back candy, and offers free toothbrushes to trick-or-treaters. He plans to donate the candy to U.S. armed forces around the world, who will in turn distribute it to local kids.
"It's fine to eat sugar, but what gets people in trouble is how long it takes to eat the sugar and how often they do it," Campbell said.
Halloween candy buy-back program
Jeffrey Brown's office is at 9251 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan; call 801-590-6834.
Jon Campbell's Legacy Dental office is at 1345 E. 3900 South #116, Millcreek; call 801-278-4223.
For information about other dentists offering to buy Halloween candy, visit http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com.
Dental care tips for candy lovers
Chocolates tend to be better for your teeth than most of the other options in a candy bag.
Sour candies and those that are sticky enough to stick to teeth are the worst.
Suckers can wreak havoc on teeth because they take so long to dissolve.
Kids need to remember to brush their teeth on Halloween morning and thoroughly again at night during the candy-eating season.
Source: Dentists Jeffrey Brown and Jon Campbell
