Kids Can Swap Candy For Cash And Cavity-Free Teeth

Elmwood Dental Group Hosts Halloween Candy Buy Back For The Troops

While every child’s goal on Halloween is to collect as much candy as possible, a local dental practice is encouraging kids to donate their goodies for a good cause. Elmwood Dental Group in West Hartford is hosting a Halloween Candy Buy Back event to benefit U.S. Military troops. Not only will kids avoid tooth decay, they can put a smile on someone else’s face.
 
Trick-or-Treaters will earn $2 per pound of unopened, individually wrapped candy for up to a 3-lb limit. Candy can be weighed at the office on Friday, November 1, 2019 from 7 am to 4 pm and Saturday, November 2 from 8 am to 11 a.m. Everyone who donates will also receive a free oral hygiene goodie bag. Elmwood Dental Group is located at 1132 New Britain Ave. in West Hartford. All candy collected will then be donated to Operation Gratitude. The nonprofit organization sends over 200,000 individually addressed care packages to military personnel deployed overseas and to their children left behind.   
 
“Of course, we want children to enjoy some candy in moderation, but every time we eat or drink something that contains sugar or starches, the bacteria in our mouths gobble them up to produce toxic acids,” said Dr. Ana Paula Gomes, owner of Elmwood Dental Group. “These acids can create holes in teeth and cause cavities.”
 
Dr. Gomes notes that the best time to allow children to eat treats is after meals because the production of saliva increases, which helps to wash acids out of the mouth. Another good idea is to have children immediately brush their teeth after eating candy. If that's not possible, tell children to rinse their mouths with water and drink a glass of water as well.
 
“We’re hosting the Halloween Candy Buy Back event to make families aware of sugar consumption overall in order to promote good oral care habits,” says Dr. Gomes. “The key here is to stop excessive eating of candy. It’s especially important for young mouths with developing teeth.”
  
According to NielsenWire, Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy during the weeks surrounding Halloween, which breaks down to a whopping 1.9 pounds of candy per person. 

The Halloween Candy Buy Back program is a public event open to all Connecticut children, patient or non-patient alike.
  
Elmwood Dental Group has been committed to caring for Connecticut families for over 37 years. Drs. Ana Paula Gomes, Rupal S. Patel, and Carissa Tanaka offer their patients a deep knowledge and broad experience in all aspects of general dentistry. Their comprehensive dental services include routine and restorative care, gum disease treatment, cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening and restoration of dental implants. In order to ease anxiety about a trip to the dentist, the practice offers amenities to keep patients of all ages entertained and comfortable before, during and after dental appointments with complimentary beverages, neck pillows, back pillows, cozy blankets, earbuds, free WiFi, and even fidget spinners!
 
Elmwood Dental Group LLC is a full-service dental, cosmetic and restorative practice dedicated to providing comprehensive, quality care with compassion. Since 1982, the friendly, family-oriented practice has proudly served the West Hartford, Newington, and Hartford, CT communities with patient education and oral care services for patients of all ages. The office is located at 1132 New Britain Ave. in West Hartford. The office is conveniently open Monday- Friday and Saturday by appointment. For more information visit www.elmwooddentalllc.com or call (860) 331-8748.
 
PHOTO: The team of female dentists at Elmwood Dental Group is hosting its first Halloween Candy Buyback Program on Nov. 1st and 2nd for all children across the state.  From left: Dr. Rupal Patel, Dr. Carissa Tanaka and Dr. Ana Paula Gomes, owner of Elmwood Dental Group.
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Submitted by Hartford, CT

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