After Halloween night is over, you’ll be rummaging through your spoils for hours trying to find your favorite sweets. Unfortunately, if you have braces, this can make the hunt a bit harder. With Invisalign in Canfield, all you’ll need to do is remove your aligners; however, with traditional brackets and wires, you’ll need to be careful about what you’re eating because it could set your treatment back. Read on to learn which of your favorite sweets are safe to eat and which ones aren’t.
Watch Out For These Notorious Sweets
Certain candy and snacks can cause your brackets and wires to break, setting your treatment timeline back. To avoid having your metal braces on for longer than necessary, you’ll want to watch out for hard, chewy, and sticky candies. These include caramels, taffy, nutty bars, jelly beans, licorice or sour straws, bubble gum, suckers, and Tootsie Rolls.
If you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment during Halloween, it may seem tempting to slip a harmless Twizzler or Laffy Taffy in your mouth without thinking twice. The problem is, they can easily cause one of your brackets to pop off or wires to break. That means, you’ll need to make an inconvenient and unexpected trip to your orthodontist in Canfield. Enjoy your Halloween by being conscious about what you’re eating.
Candies That Are In The Clear
It’s important to keep your oral health in mind just as much as the texture of the candy itself while you’re consuming your Halloween spoils. That’s why many dentists recommend eating sweets with sugar substitutes instead, even though most people will agree that they’re not as satisfying. Professionals at the American Association of Orthodontists recommend sticking to the softer treats, or ones that will melt in your mouth to avoid damaging your metal braces. Some candies that you don’t have to resist include:
- Soft chocolates
- Peanut butter cups
- Gelatin sweets
- Ice cream
- Root beer floats
- Apple cider
- Cookies and crackers (avoid hard ones)
- Apples (in bite-size pieces that are easy to chew)
- Kit Kat’s
- Three Musketeers
- Whoppers
If you’re worried about breaking your braces, speak with your orthodontist about what candies would be okay to eat. They can also give you suggestions and advice to reduce the risk of damaging your brackets or wires.
Extra Tips For Taking Care of Your Braces on Halloween
You’ll be enjoying a treasure trove of sugary snacks for months after Halloween, which is why it’s important to take extra care of your teeth and gums. After eating candy, be sure to immediately brush and floss to remove any sugar that could be trapped along your gum line or around your brackets. When it’s left to build up, it could cause harmful oral bacteria to accumulate and result in problems like gum disease and enamel erosion.
If you accidentally break or damage your braces this Halloween, be sure to call your orthodontist in Canfield immediately after the incident occurs. They can repair any issues and make sure that your treatment time doesn’t lengthen drastically.
About the Author
Dr. Marissa Mikolich has over a decade of experience straightening her patients’ teeth and improving their bite problems. In order to be able to provide high-quality orthodontic care, she earned her Master’s of Science in Oral Biology and Doctorate’s in dentistry. Her favorite part of her career is seeing a patient smile with confidence after they’ve completed their orthodontic treatment. For questions or to schedule a consultation for Invisalign or traditional braces, visit Mikolich Orthodontics’ website or call 330-967-4110.