Halloween Candy Buy Back poster
Halloween Candy Buy Back comes to Las Cruces, New Mexico!
Bright Star Dental’s Halloween Candy Buy Back offers kids dollars - and fewer cavities
After the fun of Trick-or-Treating is over, kids are left with sacks of candy to consume while parents worry about the negative health effects all those sticky sweets will have on their little ghosts and goblins. This year, Dr. Brian Gilbert and Bright Star Dental at 2001 E. Lohman Avenue are offering an innovative option with their Halloween Candy Buy Back on Monday, November 2, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The Halloween Candy Buy Back is a first for Las Cruces. Here’s how it works: kids bring their Halloween candy, wearing their costumes if they want, and weigh it in. Dr. Gilbert buys it back for one dollar per pound, and the kids go home with cash in their pockets along with some gifts and prizes. The candy is then donated to Operation Gratitude, which sends it to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those stationed far from home enjoy the occasional tasty treat and also offer a few pieces of candy to local children to help create a positive bond. So local kids get to enjoy the fun of trick-or-treating, then earn a few bucks to share their candy around the world. Adults who bring children to the event may also enter a drawing for an iPod Touch.
While a moderate amount of candy is usually fine to enjoy, the amount that kids bring home after a busy night knocking on doors can wreak havoc with their teeth and their health. According to a recent study published by the American Heart Association in the journal Circulation, “High intakes of dietary sugars in the setting of a worldwide pandemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease have heightened concerns about the adverse effects of excessive consumption of sugars. In 2001 to 2004, the usual intake of added sugars for Americans was 22.2 teaspoons per day (355 calories per day). Between 1970 and 2005, average annual availability of sugars/added sugars increased by 19 percent, which added 76 calories to Americans’ average daily energy intake. Soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages are the primary source of added sugars in Americans’ diets. Excessive consumption of sugars has been linked with several metabolic abnormalities and adverse health conditions, as well as shortfalls of essential nutrients.”
Global sugar consumption for kids increases by about two percent annually and currently sits at 50 million tons per year, which means parents need to be sure their kids teeth are being cared for now more than ever. Candy, as well as hurting children’s teeth, can lead to hyperactivity and weight gain. In some cases, the wrong types of candy can also lead to broken teeth and damaged braces.
Dr. Gilbert was inspired to host the event by his colleague and fellow member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Chris Kammer. You may recognize the Bright Star Dental name from their annual Dentistry From the Heart event, when they offer one free dental procedure to anyone who comes in that day. They also offer scholarships to graduating high school students who plan careers in health care. A possible new event planned for 2010 is a free oral cancer screening for the community.
This December, Dr. Gilbert is celebrating 20 years of practicing dentistry in Las Cruces. “We’ve put our roots down in Las Cruces and made a commitment to the community,” Dr. Gilbert says. “Our goal is to help our city be a better place.”
Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)3 organization that supports those in military service deployed overseas. To date, they have sent almost 465,000 care packages. According to their Web site, “Operation Gratitude seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines deployed overseas. Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.” Find out more about their programs at opgratitude.com.
The Halloween Candy Buy Back is a win-win event. Kids get to enjoy the fun of Halloween, then earn cash for their candy, and enjoy the good feeling of sharing the rewards of their door knocking with soldiers overseas. For additional information, call 993-9523.
