What’s a ghost’s favorite candy? Boo-ble gum!
Manville Dental Group is redefining the phrase “put your money where your mouth is.”
After Halloween, trick-or-treaters can bring their excess candy to the dental office at 7 Washington Ave, and receive $1 for each pound. Dr. Gary Small and Nirali Trivedi will give away dollars and non-sweet treats in exchange for the cavity-provoking candy.
”Ditch the candy. That’s what we’re saying,” said Dr. Small. “Visiting the dentist twice a year and brushing daily are great preventative measures, but doing away with excess sweets altogether would really give your teeth a healthy boost.”
Kids can still have all the fun of trick-or-treating, and now their piggy banks will benefit as well, he said. Plus, kids will receive goodie bags; last year’s items donated from Manville Pizzaria, Jim’s Pretzels, Banana’s Frozen Yogurt, Pizza and Pasta and Monster Mini Golf, as well as toothbrushes, paste and other fun things.
In 2011, the dentists collected a total of 2,300 pounds of candy, but not all of it came from the buy back. The dental group also hosts a candy drive at Roosevelt School in which they throw an ice cream party for the class in each grade that collects the most candy.
”We also participated in the Trunk or Treat last year, proudly having the only trunk ‘Zombie Dinner’ complete with bloody waitress, and gummy bodyparts to snack on,” said Dr. Small. Hundreds of flyers were passed out with samples of “children’s” flossers.
Candy will be collected at Manville Dental Group on Thursday, Nov. 1, (the day after Halloween) from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Children must be two to 12 years old and accompanied by an adult. Candy must be unopened.
All candy will be donated to Operation Shoebox NJ and sent overseas to New Jersey-based soldiers. For information about the organization, visit opshoebox.org.
The website Manvilledentalgroup.com has details.

