Huntington Bay Dental LLC Announces First Annual Halloween Candy Buy Back Program
 
(Huntington, N.Y.) Trick or Treating for Halloween is lots of fun, but too much of a good thing can be bad for your health. In and of itself candy is not bad, but in the large quantities consumed at Halloween, serious harm can result, both in the form of dental decay as well as in contributing to the growing problem of childhood obesity and the onset of medical conditions such as diabetes.

To help parents encourage their children to eat and consume fewer sugary treats, Huntington Bay Dental will hold its first Halloween Candy Buy Back starting on Monday November 2 through Saturday November 7. Huntington Bay Dental is located at 222 East Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743, and parents are encouraged to bring their children in between 9 am and 7 pm Monday through Thursday, and 9 am through 2 pm on Friday and Saturday. Every child who brings in Halloween candy will receive $1 per pound. For more information call the office at 631- 425-0300, or visit www.huntingtonbaydental.com.

“Everyone at Huntington Bay Dental loves Halloween, but we treat the results of eating too much sugar on a daily basis, and the problem is especially made worse during the Halloween season. We are excited about buying back the candy to help kids avoid cavities, chipped and broken teeth, broken or loosened braces, as well as promoting awareness of healthier diets with lower sugar content” say Drs. Eugene Antenucci and Adamo Notarantonio of Huntington Bay Dental. “This is our first Halloween Candy Buy-Back, and we think it’s a great way to help protect children’s teeth and help to promote better nutritional awareness.

Sugars in candy promote the growth of the bacteria which cause cavities, and the high quantities of candy consumed during Halloween serves to promote rapid bacterial growth. The high caloric content of sugary candies is also detrimental for overall health. Eating any food loaded with sugar feeds these bacteria, and the higher the quantities of sugar consumed, the more likely that cavities will result. The amount of time that sugars are present in the mouth is a key factor. Sticky candies like candy corn and gummy bears, taffy, lollypops and sucking candies that take a long time to finish are among the worst offenders. The stickier the candy, the more potential for decay. Parents can help by limiting both the quantity and the frequency that their children eat candy, and they should promote the habit of brushing after sugary sweets are consumed. If brushing is not possible or practical, children should be encouraged to rinse their mouths with water.