Don't let it be spooky for your teeth and braces! Avoid those hard, crunchy, sticky and chewy treats. Always remember to brush and floss daily to keep that healthy, beautiful smile!
October typically means one thing for children, Halloween and candy. For Drs. Brad Gilbert and Adam Wells, October is a month for embracing a healthy, beautiful smile in honor of National Orthodontic Health Month!
The American Association of Orthodontist has offered five timely tips to protect braces, and other orthodontic appliances while protecting teeth from decay.
- Avoid sticky situations with your braces and aligners. Stay away from hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy candy and snacks. These include caramel, gummies, licorice, taffy, bubblegum (even the sugarless kind), jelly beans and soft drinks.
- Say “boo” to hard treats – including hard-shelled peanut candies, nuts or nut-filled candies, taco chips and popcorn (especially unpopped kernels). And whether in orthodontic treatment or not, we advise that no one should ever chew ice.
- Brush up! Sweets can cause cavities, which means brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season. Orthodontic patients should be especially vigilant about brushing and flossing after consuming sugary or starchy foods.
- Spooktacular news: Not all Halloween candy is off-limits. Good alternatives include soft chocolates, peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth varieties. The American Association of Orthodontists even offers orthodontic-friendly recipes for Halloween on its website here.
- Make a commitment to oral health. Deciding to avoid hard and chewy sweets before the Halloween season increases your rate of success – and reduces the likelihood that you’ll break braces.
Our doctors and staff at SmilesForever Orthodontics wish all of our patients spooky fun and a safe Halloween!
