Halloween Candy Buy Back: Local Dentists Collect Candy To Send To Troops

Halloween candy -- it's what childhood dreams are made of, but unfortunately all that candy has a not-so-dreamy effect on teeth and can become a parent's nightmare. But, don't just throw it all away, this year sell your Halloween candy to local dentists for one dollar a pound, helping to save your children's teeth and support American soldiers overseas.

In the Denver metro area there are dozens of dentists participating in the national Halloween Candy Buy Back campaign. The organizers collect the candy -- last year they collected 125 tons -- and come December, ship holiday care packages that include candy, toothbrushes as well as letters of appreciation and more to troops deployed overseas.

7News reports that the organization is hoping to ship 150,000 packages to U.S. service members this year, up from 60,000 in 2010.

Kids are eating more sugar than ever and it appears that it's only getting worse, The Coloradoan reports children are eating about 2 percent more sugar each year and consuming a total of nearly 50 million tons of candy annually. What a better way to curb that habit a bit and help boost the morale of our armed forces at the same time.

Learn more about the Halloween Candy Buy Back and find a local participating dentist near you. Most area dentists begin collecting candy today, Nov. 1, but check with your dentist for specific collection times and dates.