Kool Smiles Promotes Dental Hygiene for Kids in Halloween Season

Kool Smiles has launched a program called "Operation Troop Treats" for kids to exchange Halloween candy for toys across the 132 Kool Smiles dental offices nationwide. The candy collected through the program will be delivered in care packages via Operation Gratitude to U.S. troops serving abroad.

Kool Smiles provides quality dental care to underserved communities in the country. Through its Halloween candy program, it aims to promote proper dental care and good dental hygiene practices among families and kids. The program is open to all, irrespective of whether they are a patient of Kool Smiles. For every 25 pieces of unopened candy, a child receives a toy of his or her choice under this program. The toys are given away on a first come first served basis.

Operation Gratitude Founder and President Carolyn Blashek said: "We are so excited that Kool Smiles is making the effort to contribute on such a large scale this year. We know that receiving treats like Halloween candy lifts the morale of our Armed Forces, and the fact that Kool Smiles took it a step further by donating dental care kits and operational funds, was a great bonus that ensures we can send very fun and full packages to the troops."

Operation Gratitude has encouraged dentists across the country for the past years, through the Halloween Candy Buy-Back program to collect Halloween candy from patients for distribution among the troops serving overseas. The Kool Smiles Halloween Candy Buy-Back initiative is the largest one of its kind for a dental organization participating on a national scale.

Kool Smiles Regional Dental Director Priya Grewal, DDS, said: "Halloween can be especially rough on kids' teeth. The increased frequency of candy intake for many children around this holiday can increase the risk of and/or cause cavities or exacerbate existing oral health problems. This program encourages parents and children in the area to reduce the frequency their teeth are exposed to sugars by exchanging some of their candy for a fun toy."

Photo Credit: hortongrou