Patients donated close to 800 pounds of candy, which will be donated to U.S. Troops serving overseas, said Eisenhuth, an Apple Valley, MN orthodontist.
The candy buy-back program, which is in its fifth year, was designed to remove the temptation among Eisenhuth’s patients to eat chewy, sticky candies that could damage their braces by donating those potentially damaging candies in exchange for tokens that could be turned in for prizes. Patients received one token for every pound of candy they donated, and prizes included gift cards and toys.
The donated candy is shipped to U.S. soldiers who are stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Eisenhuth also ships toothbrushes and dental floss along with the candy, she said.
“Eating candy is fine, as long as you brush your teeth afterward,” said the Apple Valley Invisalign provider. “That’s why we include the dental care products in our care package to the soldiers.”
Eisenhuth said she is amazed each year by her patients’ generosity.
“We ask them to donate the candies they get during Halloween festivities that might harm their braces,” she said. “But we find that once the patients learn that the candy will be given to soldiers, they often donate candy that would have been OK for them to eat.”
Eisenhuth’s staff collected all of the candy on Nov. 2 and soon will box it up and ship it to Iraq.
“We get lots of e-mails from soldiers who receive the candy, thanking us for the treats,” Eisenhuth said.
Soldiers frequently give the candy and the toothbrushes to the children they encounter in remote areas of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Dr. Eisenhuth is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
She takes pride in caring for the orthodontic needs of residents in the Twin Cities- St. Paul and Minneapolis, and their surrounding regions, including Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, Apple Valley and Eagan, Minnesota.
Her office is located at 3340 Sherman Court, Eagan, Minn., 55121.
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