One sweet idea

One area dentist is redefining the phrase “put your money where your mouth is.” 

This Halloween, trick-or-treaters can bring their excess candy to Dr. Robert J. Florio and Dr. Nicole Florio Kohner’s office in Lynbrook and receive $1 per pound. 

Florio is leading this anti-decay movement by giving away dollars and glowing electric toothbrushes in exchange for cavity-provoking candy.

“Ditch the candy, that’s what we’re saying,” said Floris. ”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. Kids can still have all of the fun of trick-or-treating, and now their piggy banks will benefit as well.”

Global sugar consumption for kids increases by about 2 percent 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 teeth and damaged braces.  

Candy will be collected at Dr. Florio and Dr. Kohner’s office the Monday after Halloween, only from 2 to 5 p.m. The candy must be unopened. It will then be shipped to troops overseas by Operation Gratitude.

Operation Gratitude, headquartered in California, repackages the candy in with care packages and sent to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. “While we don’t believe in taking all the fun and sweetness of Halloween night traditions away from the kids,” said a Cash for Candy Web site, “we do believe the excess candy is always better off with a responsible adult than with a child.”

In addition to being a welcome and deserved treat, the military troops use the candy to befriend the locals and trade for information which often saves lives by finding hidden explosive devices and other dangers.

For more information, visit Drs. Florio at www.Lynbrooksmiles.com  or www.operationcashforcandy.com