FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CASH FOR CANDY!

Local Dentist Takes a Stand Against Sweets this Halloween

— Earn cash for your candy and support a soldier —

10/6/2014 – One local dentist is redefining the phrase “put your money where your mouth is.”  This Halloween, trick-or-treaters can bring their excess candy to Advanced Dental Care of Springfield and receive $1 per pound.   Dr. Matt VanderMolen and his team have joined the movement to reduce gingivitis and anti-decay by giving away dollars, prizes, and local favors in exchange for cavity-provoking candy.

“Visiting your dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventative measures, but doing away with excess sweets altogether would really give your teeth a healthy boost,” says Dr. VanderMolen.  “Sure, they can have a few treats on Halloween night and maybe even keep a couple more for later in the week.  But we’ll take the rest of it and pay them for it!  Kids can still have all of the fun of trick-or-treating, and now their piggy banks will benefit as well. “

“Our dental practice chose to participate in the Halloween Candy Buy Back to help parents who want to limit the amount of damage that can be done to their children’s teeth.  We want to encourage and teach preventative care and healthy habits, while supporting our troops overseas,” says Dr. VanderMolen.

Kids should still dress up, go out, have fun, and yes, even eat some candy.  But after picking out the best of their stash, they will probably have about 10 pounds left, and nobody needs that much candy!

Global sugar consumption for kids increases by about 2% annually and currently sits at 50 million tons per year, which means parents need to be sure their kids teeth are being cared for 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 and damaged braces.

Candy will be collected at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield on Saturday, November 1^st, the day after Halloween, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  The candy will then be shipped to Operation Gratitude in California where it will be sorted and repackaged and then distributed to troops serving our country overseas.  Each child is eligible to receive $1 per pound, up to a five (5) pound limit, for all unopened, uneaten candy.  We also encourage the children to draw pictures and/or write letters or notes to include in the packages to our troops.

Plus, there will be door prizes as well as a raffle of items donated by local businesses!

Dr. VanderMolen and his team at Advanced Dental Care of Springfield work hard to raise public awareness of the benefits of healthy eating and great dental hygiene and they offer affordable and convenient dental care to Springfield and surrounding areas.  For more information, contact Steve at (217) 717-4551, or visit www.SmileSpringfield.com and www.HalloweenCandyBuyBack.com.