Whether it is a snaggletoothed grin or a scary smile, collecting excess Halloween candy to cut down on cavities and make life sweeter for soldiers should certainly put a happy face on Jack-o’-lanterns everywhere.

For the past six years, Dr. Martin Chaney and his staff at Chaney Family Dental have been buying up excess Halloween candy from children throughout the community in an effort to reduce gingivitis and decay. The collected candy is then shipped to Operation Gratitude, which sends the candy to soldiers serving overseas.

“We will pay $1 for every pound of candy received, and the children will also get a coupon to McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A. They will also get a free toothbrush,” Chaney said.

Chaney said he heard about Operation Gratitude through a website on the Internet.

“The program started about 10 years ago by Carolyn Blashek,” Chaney said.

Operation Gratitude sends more than 150,000 care packages annually to new recruits, veterans, first responders, wounded warriors, care givers and to individually named U.S. service members deployed overseas. In addition to the Halloween candy, the all-volunteer, non-profit organization also sends care packages, which included hygiene products, hand-made items and personal letters of appreciation.

Since Operation Gratitude began in 2003, more than one million care packages have been sent to the men and women who serve our country.

For local children or those still young at heart, Chaney will be receiving candy at his office at 3205 Wisconsin Ave. Nov. 2 through 3.

“We have actually had some people buy bags of candy and bring it up to donate,” Teresa Chaney said.

Chaney, who is one of 3,000 dentists who participate nationally, is the only dentist office in Vicksburg and the surrounding areas where candy can be dropped off and donated to Operation Gratitude.

Since participating with Operation Gratitude, Chaney said he has averaged collecting 55 pounds of candy a year.

Any type of candy can be donated, but it must be in its original wrapper.

Chaney said his young donors have had no problems parting with their excess Halloween candy.

“Parents have prepared them for it and they are excited to get $1 and the coupons,” he said.

“What we really appreciate is the others that get on board with us, like McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A have done. It is nice that there are places here in town that when you try to do a community event, they help you out with them,” Teresa Chaney said.

Teresa Chaney added both of the fast food restaurants print up their own coupons, which are given to the children for the Halloween candy giveback.

Operation Gratitude has come full circle for Chaney. He said he has been able to experience the fruition of his efforts.

“I have one or two of my patients who have received the candy when they were overseas,” he said.