美牙医推万圣节糖果回购项目

万圣节过后，孩子们手里的糖果将去向何处？不如按一磅一美元的价格卖给牙医吧。美国一个名为“万圣节糖果回购”的项目每年都会在万圣节后向孩子们回收糖果，之后作为节日特别包裹寄送给美国驻在海外的部队。今年的回购活动中，华盛顿特区的一家牙医诊所除了现金购买孩子们手中的糖果，还对前100名出售糖果的孩子提供一个特别的、会发光的牙刷。

Simply asking a child for her candy the day after Halloween would probably elicit nothing more than laughter.

But what if in the true American way, the child was offered cash and a really cool toothbrush?

All right, perhaps the toothbrush isn't as much of an incentive, but there's cash.

And as part of the nationwide "Halloween Candy Buy-Back" program, the candy is donated to Operation Gratitude for its holiday care packages for U.S. military members overseas.

This year, about two dozen dentists in the D.C. region are taking part in the program on Nov. 1, including Fairlington Dental in Arlington.

Dawn Patrick, practice administrator, says this will be their third year taking part in the buyback program.

Fairlington Dental will buy back candy at $1 a pound, and in exchange the first 100 kids will receive a special, light-up toothbrush.

Patrick says they take part because "it's just the fun of seeing the kids all excited, and giving the candy back. We know they've eaten some it."

"It's fun to see the kids come in and how excited they are to sell their candy and collect their money," Patrick says.

Contrary to popular belief, Halloween candy is not anathema to dentists, she says.

"You can eat pretty much whatever you like, as long as you brush," Patrick says.

Sterling dentist Dr. Shreyesh Ruparelia, who will be taking part for his third year, writes in his blog that last year his practice -- Cascades Center for Dental Health -- sent more than 600 pounds of candy overseas through Operation Gratitude.