New St. Lucie County school program has a 'sweet' effect on students

FT. PIERCE, Fla. -- You know if you have children, sugar can have an effect on their behavior. Now local schools are piloting a program to go sugar-free and completely candy-free.

The new data released from the St. Lucie County Oral Health Coalition shows the program is changing cavities into smiles fast. The schools went from having 20-percent of students with good oral health to now 80-percent of students having no cavities.

"When students are in pain, especially young students--they can't really verbalize it. They scream they yell. They are acting out. When you find out it is a huge dental issue and it gets taken care of, all of the sudden I don't see that child in the office anymore," said Teri Barenborg, Garden City Elementary School Principal.

Garden City Early Learning center went completely candy-free in 2010. A grant provides fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to children daily.

Students also began brushing in school.

"With the pre-k kids, we are able to teach them to keep the bugs or germs out of their mouths," said Jennifer Mosher, teacher.

They also brought in a mobile dental clinic.

"All of our students are screened now by Dr. Ervin, he's just absolutely wonderful," said Barenborg.

Ervin Valcin, a hygenist with the HANDS Pediatric Dental Clinic, screened all the kids before they went candy free in 2010.

"I was kind of shocked at what I saw, shocking kids with 12 cavities out of 20, kids with teeth half gone," said Valcin.

A dismal 80 percent of kids had cavities last year. But candy-free works. The data just released this week shows this year, nearly 75-percent of students had no cavities.

Candy-free equals healthy and carefree. But so much more. Higher scores, and teachers are even saying they've seen lower absenteeism.

"They are calmer. They are more apt to be able to focus and follow directions," said Mosher.

Instead of candy, students get "B-bucks," a sort of monopoly-type currency where they get lunch with the principal or something similar to that. It all goes in place of candy, and it's making a huge difference.