Canadian children have been dressing up and going door-to-door collecting treats on Halloween since the early 1900s.

Canadian children have been dressing up and going door-to-door collecting treats on Halloween since the early 1900s.
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Orthodontist to buy kids’ Halloween candy

An orthodontist in western Canada is offering to pay children to give him the candy they collect on Halloween. Every October 31st, children across Canada wear costumes and go door-to-door collecting candy, chocolate and other treats. Dental professionals say eating too many sweets is bad for their teeth.

Canadian children eat too much candy and not just on Halloween, say dental professionals.
Canadian children eat too much candy and not just on Halloween, say dental professionals. © CBC

Children eat too much candy always

Dr. Kerry Flintoff of Kamloops, British Columbia is among many health professionals who say Canadian children eat too much candy all the time.

But on the occasion of Halloween, she is offering to pay one dollar per pound (about 450 grams) of candy and will contribute another dollar per pound to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.

The candy she collects will be donated to a local food bank.

Good luck with that.

Canadians buy lots of candy

On average, Canadians spent $355 million on candy in October 2011 compared to $276.2 million in other months of the year.

A recent survey found 64 per cent of Canadians intend to hand out candy on Halloween. Another 51 per cent will buy candy for themselves. The average amount they will spend is $42.

They also spend lavishly on costumes. But that’s another story.

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