Dentists prepare for Halloween holiday
Dentists across America are preparing for one of the biggest holidays of the year, Halloween.
Halloween is notoriously popular in America and many families go to great lengths to celebrate; however, for dentists it can be a worrying time as children often consume large amounts of sweet, sugary foods, which could harm their teeth.
In recent years, a large number of dentists have launched initiatives and joined forces with charities to raise money for good causes by buying back excess candy from children; many dentists are raising money for troops abroad this year by buying candy off children and sending it to troops to give to children in war zones across the world. Other dentists have launched buy back schemes, which enable children to swap sweets for money and vouchers to use at local shops or restaurants; many dental offices are also giving out toothbrushes free of charge to participating children.
Many dentists have teamed up to encourage children to restrict the amount of candy they eat at Halloween; instead, they are urging them to eat healthier treats and look after their teeth and gums. Eating a large amount of sugary foods can cause extensive damage to the teeth, as they encourage bacteria to produce harmful plaque acids, which attack and break down the protective enamel surfaces of the teeth. Once the enamel starts to wear, the rest of the tooth becomes vulnerable and susceptible to decay.
Dr Craig Hollander, from Pediatric Dentistry of Sunset Hills, is offering children $1 plus glow in the dark bangles and a restaurant voucher in exchange for each pound of candy. Dr Hollander said he was supporting the Halloween buy back scheme to try and encourage children to think about effects of eating candy and promote good oral health.
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