With Halloween right around the corner and trick-or- treaters with excess candy, we thought we would help to find a way to take some of that cavity-causing candy off your hands AND show thanks to our troops overseas. This year MILUNSKY FAMILY DENTISTRY in Media will be participating for the third year in Operation Gratitude's Give-Back Program and Stockings for Soldiers. In addition to reducing cavities for local children, these anti-cavity movements donate excess candy to these organizations , which include it in care packages along with toothbrushes and heartwarming items such as  hand-made scarves, mittens, and socks. Each individual soldier, sailor, airmen, or marine will receive one package full of these special treats.

"Visitng your dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventive measures, but doing away with excess sweets would really give your teeth a healthy boost," says Dr. Jake Milunsky from Milunsky Family Dentistry. "Kids can still have all the fun of trick-or-treating, and now they can feel good about donating some of their treats to those men and women abroad who are protecting our freedoms in this country."

Candy in excess can lead to hyperactivity and weight gain, as well as causing cavities and gingivitis, that is why it is essential parents pay attention to their children's teeth and how they are being cared for. Brushing after eating candy is a great way to prevent prolonged exposure to the sugars and acids that destroy teeth.

Wrapped candy will be collected at Milunsky Family Dentistry after Halloween on Friday 11/2, Monday 11/5, and Wednesday 11/7 only, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Friday until 3 p.m.). The wrapped candy must be unopened in order to be shipped to troops overseas. Milunsky Family Dentistry will provide the thank you cards and markers for each child to make their own special expression of thanks and gratitude to the members of the Armed Forces. Each child's donation should be accompanied by a letter to the troops, so bring your child into the office so he or she can make a card to go along with their candy donation.

Milunsky Family Dentistry is located at:

214 State Road, Media, PA 19063

(610) 566-5322