Dentists to buy back Halloween candy to send to troops

Wondering what to do with your child’s sweet haul from Halloween?

Area dentists are teaming up with a Califoia nonprofit to buy back candy for a good cause, sending it to men and women in the armed forces.

“It helps get the candy away from the kids and the parents and helps reduce cavities and obesity,” said Dr. Danny King of Children’s Dental Zone in Alpharetta, which will collect candy from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday. This is the fourth year that King’s office has participated in the program. Last year, people gave roughly 300 pounds of treats.

Trick-or-treaters get $1 per pound of candy, up to $3 per person. “It’s good for our patients,” he said, “and we really like to help the troops.”

In 2007, a Wisconsin dentist contacted Operation Gratitude, which sends care packages to troops, about joining forces.    That first year, 300 dentists from across the nation collected about 20,000 pounds of candy. By 2011, the number of dentists more than tripled and the amount of candy collected hit 250,000 pounds, enough to make any ghoul smile. The program now includes schools, businesses, churches and individuals. Candy can be exchanged for cash, coupons, toys or dental products.

The candy will be included in care packages along with toiletries, snack foods and personal letters.

Dr. Miles Mazzawi of Cherokee Children’s Dentistry in Canton sees the program as a way to educate young patients and their parents about making smart choices. “We encourage parents to stay away from the sticky, chewy, gooey stuff,” he said. But it also, “gives us the opportunity to let the troops know we’re thinking about them back home.”

The response from patients runs the gamut, said Mazzawi, whose office will accept candy Thursday.

“Some of them are excited and happy,” he said. “Of course, some of the younger ones are a little more reluctant. They don’t understand why they have to give up their loot, but there’s only so much you can consume yourself.”