‘Cash for Candy’ exchange set for Nov. 1

by Dennis Dalman

editor@thenewsleaders.com

Ditch the Halloween candy, or at least eat it in moderation, then brush your teeth carefully and turn in most of the rest of the candy to Sartell Pediatrics in Sartell.

Once again, for the fourth year, Pediatric Dentistry and Sartell Pediatrics are co-sponsoring a “Cash for Candy” program that gives children $1 per pound of all candy turned in, along with free toothbrushes and prize drawings.

“Cash for Candy” is set for 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1 at Sartell Pediatrics, which is located at 111 Second St. S. in Sartell. Pediatric Dentistry, which is located at 151 19th St. S. in Sartell, hosts the event every other year on the odd years.

The turn-in-candy movement was started by pediatrician Dr. David Smith of Sartell Pediatrics and dentist Dr. Sarah Welch of Pediatric Dentistry. They both want to reduce gingivitis, and other dental and body-health risks associated with the consumption of sugar.

Smith and Welch do not mean to be Halloween grinches.

“Halloween is a kid favorite,” Smith said. “Children should enjoy dressing up, the costumes and trick-or-treating. However, the holiday can also serve as an opportunity to emphasize moderation and giving.”

Smith began the Halloween Candy Buyback in 2012 in conjunction with Pediatric Dentistry and BLEND.

“Ditch the candy, that’s what we’re saying,” Welch said. “Visiting your dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventive measures, but doing away with excess sweets altogether would really give your teeth a healthy boost. Kids can still have all of the fun of trick-or-treating, and now their piggy banks will benefit as well.”

Many parents, concerned about their children’s consumption of sugar, are strongly in favor of the Cash for Candy program.

Welch and Smith noted children’s consumption of sugar increases each year by 3 percent throughout the world. Currently, an astounding 50 million tons of sugar per year are consumed. Besides harming teeth, sugar can lead to hyperactivity and weight gain. In some cases, the wrong kinds of candy can also lead to broken and/or damaged teeth and/or braces.

In the past four years, the Cash for Candy event drew an average of 500 families and more than 1,000 pounds of candy were handed over in exchange for money and prizes. At first, the candy was shipped overseas to American troops serving in combat zones. However, due to lowered deployments this year, the candy will be given to local veterans’ groups and hospice places.

The effort to turn in Halloween candy has garnered lots of local support, said Jill Smith, practice manager at Sartell Pediatrics. For example, for the past few years, Stride Academy has collected Halloween candy at the school and awarded prizes to the classroom contributing the most.

“We would love to see the event grow into a larger collaboration among (more) local businesses and schools,” Dr. Smith said. “The idea is to truly promote community-wide health.”