Oct 29, 2009 4:59 pm US/Eastern
Trade In Halloween Candy For Money & Clean Teeth
CATONSVILLE, Md. (WJZ) ―
You can trade in Halloween goodies for money and clean teeth. Some Maryland dentists are participating in a nationwide program that pays kids for their candy and then ships the treats to soldiers.
Andrea Fujii spoke with a Catonsville pediatric dentist who is happy to snatch away kids' sugary snacks.
Indulging in Halloween candy can mean a trip to the dentist.
"You go trick or treating and get candy," said Briana Duffy.
So pediatric dentist Ed Ginsberg decided to participate in the Halloween Candy Buy Back program. The week after Halloween, kids donate their candy and get paid a dollar for every pound. That candy then gets shipped overseas to soldiers in Iraq.
"We thought it was a good public service, and certainly dental decay is the number one childhood disease of all diseases," said Ginsburg.
Hundreds of dentists nationwide participate in the program. Last year, the program collected hundreds of thousands of pounds of candy.
Many parents look forward to the idea.
"I usually throw a lot of my kids' candy away because I have three children and we collect so much candy it's ridiculous," said Felicia Minkey.
Ginsberg says even kids who aren't patients plan to participate.
"They feel good about doing something for the troops," he said.
He says keeping a few pieces of candy is OK, too.
"Of course, brush and floss afterwards," Ginsburg said.
Click here to find the nearest pediatric dentist participating in the program.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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