Pediatric dentist Dr. Jeff Williams is busy in the days after Halloween, fixing crowns and tightening braces, courtesy of Tootsie Rolls and Twizzlers.

Of all the holidays that generate dental care thanks to sugary treats, “Halloween is the worst,” the Bartlett dentist said.

And the damage won’t end at midnight tonight.

Often tenacious trick-or- treaters have enough candy to stretch their sugar stash for weeks, he said.

Which begs the question: How much Halloween candy should children be eating?

“We can’t really say that any candy is OK,” Williams said.

However, some treats are less damaging than others.

“Reese’s Pieces and M&M’s are better — if any are better,” the dentist said. “The ones we don’t like are the very sticky kind.”

And dentists are sure to get a wave of toothaches and oral emergencies this year, as the National Confectioners Association lists this Halloween’s top treats as hard candy, chewy or gummi candy, bubble gum and caramel treats.

The sugar in candy creates an acid in the mouth that begins to break down the enamel of teeth, ultimately causing cavities.

To the chagrin of neighborhood children, Williams tried passing out toothbrushes one year.

“We got some unhappy looks from trick or treaters,” he said.

Now, Williams does a Halloween candy buy-back.

Copying similar programs being used across the country to curb Halloween overindulgence, Williams’ office, Bartlett Pediatric Dentistry on Kirby Whitten Parkway, offers children $1 for every pound of candy up to 10 pounds.

Every dollar given out will be matched and donated to the Ronald McDonald House. The candy will be shipped to troops overseas.

Dr. Harry Sharp, a professor of pediatric dentistry at the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, would prefer more people give out goodies on Halloween that don’t promote tooth decay. But he realizes that’s unlikely.

Instead, he offers these tips:

Kids should eat a moderate amount of candy in one sitting.

Don’t allow them to continue eating sugary treats and drinks throughout the night and in the days after Halloween.

Make sure they brush and floss after they’ve eaten candy.

The good news is that for kids without preexisting problems, teeth are pretty resilient to a one-night sugar binge.

“One time is not going to cause them to wake up the next day with cavities,” Sharp said. “It might begin to start a cavity, but it takes a long time for that to happen.”

– Lindsay Melvin: 529-2445

Get rid of it

Here are two dentists who will take the candy off your hands:

Dr. Michael Blen

6363 Poplar, Suite 110

415-2536

Drop off: Monday, from 2-5:30 p.m., or Tuesday, 3-5:30 p.m.,

Kids who turn in candy get a goodie bag, and for every pound of candy they are eligible for a door prize raffle ticket.

Dr. Jeff Williams

3071 Kirby Whitten Pkwy.

382-1564

Drop off: Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. until Nov. 15.

Kids will receive $1 for every pound of candy for up to 10 pounds.

Credit: The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.

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