Halloween trick-or-treaters give dentists wicked nightmares, not because of their masks and fake blood, but because of the pounds of candy they carry home and gobble down.

Two Colorado Springs dentists have decided to do something about it. Instead of tossing and turning as visions of small mouths with cavities fill their heads, they're buying back that candy at $1 per pound. And then the candy will go to U.S. troops overseas.

"Ditch the candy - that's what we're saying," said Dr. Ralph Parkin of the Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center. Checkups and brushing are good, he said, "but doing away with excess sweets altogether would really give your teeth a healthy boost."

The candy buyback is part of a national program, started in 2007, that includes a few hundred dentists. The dentists distribute their coffers of candy to troops through Operation Gratitude, a California-based nonprofit that specializes in care packages to overseas troops.

Exceptional Dentistry, run by Dr. Ron Charity, pulled in 200 kids and 500 pounds of candy last year. He gives the kids $1 a pound, plus a goodie bag that includes coupons to businesses such as Chuck E. Cheese and Mimi's Café.

"We're always talking about Halloween, because the average kid collects about 5 pounds of candy," Charity said. "Nobody needs 5 pounds of candy, not just from a dental standpoint, but an overall health standpoint."

The dentists don't want to become Dr. Killjoy, though. They hope kids pick out some of their favorite candy, and then donate the rest.

"We don't want them to feel like they've been robbed," Parkin said. "We don't want to steal their childhood."

Kyshawn Suggs, now 11, was excited last year to sell the 6 pounds of candy he earned to Parkin.

"My mom said if I gave my candy to the dentist it would be for the troops," said Kyshawn, a sixth-grader at Carmel Middle School. Both of his parents have served in the military, so he liked that idea.

Of course, there's one irony to the program: Dentists are buying candy from children to save them from the horrors of tooth decay, then sending the candy to adults who, presumably, have teeth that can get cavities.

Parkin said he thought about that, and he's tossing in toothbrushes for the troops as well. Charity said the candy will be distributed among many troops, their friends, and maybe the kids in foreign countries where they serve, so they won't each be wolfing down the 5 pounds of sugary treats that many trick-or-treaters do. Moderation is the key.

He hopes adults are responsible enough to brush after consuming candy - a warning parents might want to take to heart before they raid their kids' candy piles.

Otherwise, a sweet treat can turn into a nasty trick.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0226 or bill.reed@gazette.com


Candy dropoff sites

Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center

Where: 1803 B St.
When: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 4, 5 and 7. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 8
Prizes: $1 per pound of candy, plus a FireFly flashing toothbrush
More info: 576-1730

Colorado Balloon Classic offices in partnership with Cheyenne Mountain Dental Center

Where: 328 Bonfoy Ave.
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 4-7
Prizes: $1 per pound of candy, plus a FireFly flashing toothbrush
More info: 471-4833 or 576-1730

Exceptional Dentistry

Where: 1675 Briargate Blvd., Suite A
When: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Nov. 3 and 4
Prizes: $1 per pound of candy, plus a goodie bag with coupons to local businesses and a FireFly toothbrush More info: 574-1705