Operation Gratitude
By Dr. Stephanie DeFilippo
Who wants to get paid to go trick-or-treating and help support the military at the same time? If this sounds like a great idea, then you should bring any trick-or-treat goodies to J
ust Kids at Gettysburg Dental Associates the week following Halloween.
What is Operation Gratitude? Operation Gratitude sends 150,000+ care packages filled with “snacks, entertainment, hygiene and hand-made items, plus personal letters of appreciation to New Recruits, Veterans, First Responders, Wounded Warriors, Care Givers and to individually named U.S. Service Members deployed overseas” every year. Their mission is to “lift the spirits and meet the evolving needs of our Active Duty and Veteran communities, and provide volunteer opportunities for all Americans to express their appreciation to members of our Military.” Along with the Halloween candy, the office will also be sending any cards made by patients to send well wishes and encouragement to our Armed Forces. This year we are also sending a portion of the donated candy to a local group, For the Love of a Veteran. Any donation is appreciated.
However, there is an additional benefit to “selling” your Halloween candy back to the dental office. All of that sugar will give you and your children cavities! The biting surfaces of the back teeth have pits and fissures that are easily decayed after eating sticky candies or chewing on lollipops. It is also difficult to clean out that sticky consistency at home with your toothbrush. So, the best thing is to avoid these types of foods to make sure it does not cause any types of decay. So, what is the best type of candy to eat out of the trick-or-treat bag? Chocolate! Chocolate won’t stick into the pits of your teeth and is easily cleaned off with a toothbrush.
As always, remember to see your dentist every six months for a cleaning and exam for you and your children. Please help your children brush before bed and make sure they are brushing at least twice a day. Flossing is also very important and kids need to be helped with this task before bedtime. Remind your children that brushing is best before bedtime because we do not want all of the food from throughout the day sticking to their teeth and causing cavities as they sleep. Fluoride rinses are also good after brushing and flossing. Make sure that you wait until your child is around the age of six before using the rinse, or when they are able to spit out the fluid completely. The amount of ingested fluoride in toothpaste and mouthwash should be controlled in young children. Fluoridated water is recommended for children as they grow. This type of ingested fluoride is a different concentration and is safe to be swallowed and helps decrease the incidence of decay.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
Stephanie DeFilippo, DDS is co-owner of
Just Kids at Gettysburg Dental Associates and a board certified pediatric dentist.
#3: Limit your alcohol intake 
Some candies are more problematic than others. Hard candies can put your teeth at risk because in addition to being full of sugar, they’ve also been known to cause broken or chipped teeth. (Be careful not to break or chip your teeth when eating nuts as well!) 
