Dentists Offer to Buy Back Halloween Candy from Kids

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FL -- In an effort to fight cavities this fall, many dentists on the First Coast are willing to pay their young patients for turning in excess Halloween candy.

Bartram Dental Center in North St. Johns County is offering the incentive for the third year in a row. 

Dr. Jason Lewis says his office received 500 pounds of candy from kids last year, which they in turn send in care packages to troops over seas.

"This is an opportunity for us to get the candy out of kids' hands, give them money in return, then do something good," Dr. Lewis said.

Dr. Lewis offers his patients $1 per pound of candy.

He says cavities, especially in young people, can result from too much candy consumed.

"It's amazing how bad some of the candy is out there. A couple of my staff are putting a poster together to show how much acid is in some of the candy," Dr. Lewis said.

Nick and Drew Ryno are some of Dr. Lewis' best patients. But the boys admit they love Trick or Treating.

"Reeses. The chocolate and the peanut butter ones," said Drew of his favorite treat.

Their mom, Wendy Ryno, is looking forward to turning in some of her kids' Halloween loot.

"They get way too much candy! Plus, my brother is stationed in Iraq and he has kids, so it's great that we can reach out to him," Ryno said of the program.

Families (patients and non-patients) are invited to bring excess Halloween candy to Dr. Lewis's dentist office the day after Halloween, November 1st, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Bartram Dental Center
130 Gateway Circle
St. Johns, FL

The candy must be unopened; it will be shipped to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Kids can wear costumes, and prizes will be raffled off.

Two other candy collecting events on the First Coast:

Dr. Robert Fields-Orthodontic Specialist

• 2245 Plantation Center Drive
  Fleming Island, FL
• 421 Kingsley Avenue
  Orange Park, FL

Unopened candy will be collected from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, November 2nd, at both of Dr. Fields' office locations.  Families will receive $1 per pound of candy.  For every pound collected, Dr. Fields will also donate $1 to the family of Somer Thomson.

First Coast Oncology

Dr. Scott Ackerman is sponsoring a Halloween candy buy back from November 2nd through November 7th.

• 10881 San Jose Boulevard
  Jacksonville, FL
• 1340 South 18th Street
  Suite 103, Building A
  Fernandina Beach, FL

Candy can be dropped off at both offices from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dr. Ackerman is offering $1 per pound of unopened candy.  The donations will also be sent to troops in Iraq.

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