Dentists in the US have taken a step towards helping children avoid a trip to the emergency dentist this Halloween by offering to buy any sweets they do not want.
Dr Steven Johnson of Johnson Family Dental Offices in Santa Barbara is planning to purchase the candies and send them to troops currently serving overseas.
He hopes by offering $2 per pound of sweets, more children will be tempted to hand in their sugary haul rather than eat it and cause possible damage to their teeth.
"Visiting your 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," Dr Johnson noted.
Research recently carried out by the American Optometric Association revealed that since the onset of the global economic downturn, 63 per cent of Americans claim they visit the dentist less now than they did a year ago.