Sell candy back to the dentist

Do your kids usually get way more Halloween candy than you want them to eat? Did you buy more than you needed for trick-or-treaters who didn’t show?

Sell it back to your dentist.

Dentists and orthodontists nationwide are participating in this year’s Halloween Candy Buyback, in which dentists will pay people $1 to $2 per pound for their leftover candy. Some dental offices are throwing parties, giving out prizes (including toothbrushes) and donating additional money to local charities as well.

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The candy they collect will be sent by Operation Gratitude to troops serving overseas. We hope they send the troops toothbrushes, too, though we must admit the service members in our family love receiving candy.

• Bing: Recipes with leftover Halloween candy

We’ve solved this year’s problem with leftover Halloween candy (we never have any trouble getting rid of candy, alas) by not buying any and going out instead. In the past, we’ve taken leftover candy to the office, where it has been greeted with both cheers and jeers.

My more disciplined sister saves leftover Halloween candy for Christmas stockings.

Our partner blog Wisebread came up last year with 10 things to do with leftover Halloween candy, including donating it, making a piñata or using it in cooking or crafts.

Don’t blame us if it ends up on your hips. We offered you alternatives.

Related reading:

• Taking a bite out of dental bills
• What does it cost to drop 30 pounds?
• Free food and fun on Halloween