Caramel apple suckers, taffy, milk duds. Halloween brings around so many treats that you know aren’t safe for your teeth or your braces, but you still want to enjoy some sweets this Halloween season! Taking care of your braces enables your treatment process to be smooth and may even lead to having them taken off more quickly.
So what are you to do when the time for trick or treating comes around and you are faced with caring for your braces or indulging in your sweet tooth? Luckily, there are Halloween candy options that are still tasty and won’t go breaking your brackets!
Safe Halloween Candy With Braces
It is okay to enjoy a sweet treat while wearing braces, but keep in mind that any kind of candy can pose a threat to your braces if you aren’t mindful of how much, how often or what kind of candy you choose to eat. If your sweet tooth cannot be contained, here are some ideas of safe to eat candy you can look for around Halloween:
- M&Ms – make sure they are either plain or peanut butter. Peanut M&Ms are a no-go!
- Reese’s Pieces
- Reese’s Peanut butter cups
- 3 Musketeers or other soft chocolatey bars
- KitKats
- Chocolate covered marshmallow candy
Unsafe Candy With Braces
If you happen to find a candy you are unsure about, be sure to check with your orthodontist office to see if it is safe. In most every case, it is better to be safe than sorry and save the chewy, sticky candy for another time. You might even be able to trade a friend for candy that is soft and easy on your teeth.
Below are candies to avoid if you want to forego an extra trip to your orthodontist:
- Caramel – even soft caramels can be too sticky for the wire that holds your braces together.
- Caramel Apples – not exactly a candy, but this Halloween treat has been known to leave braces in disrepair after consumption.
- Jolly Ranchers and suckers
- Jelly Candies – Dots, Peach Rings, Swedish Fish, Sour Worms, Gummy Bears
- Jellybeans
- Tootsie Rolls and Taffy
- Bubble gum
- Licorice
- Now N Laters or Starbursts
Candies that are sticky, chewy, crunchy or gummy are especially threatening to braces. If the wire from your braces gets stuck in these candies, you are looking at having to deal with bent wires, broken brackets and maybe even both! If this happens it requires a trip to the orthodontist to have the issues fixed. An unsecured wire in your braces also means that the braces are no longer doing their job and you may have to wear them longer to make up for lost time.
Cleaning Tips After Eating Sugary Treats
You probably already know that sugar isn’t good for your teeth, especially if it sits on your teeth too long. Indulging in a candy that could get stuck in your braces may lead to cavities if you don’t thoroughly clean your teeth (and your braces) after consumption. If you partake in Halloween candy be sure to thoroughly clean your teeth afterwards and at the very least, before going to bed at night.
The best way to guarantee clean, cavity-free teeth is to brush thoroughly after eating anything sweet and to take the time to floss or gently use a pick around your braces to push loose any food that is stuck. Anticavity mouthwash is another great item to keep in an easily accessible spot. If you don’t have your toothbrush, floss or mouthwash handy, taking a drink of water and swishing it through your mouth is more effective than doing nothing at all.
Orthodontic Treatment in Fort Worth
With a season full of candy and sweets coming, keep in mind the effect these goodies can have on your teeth and your kids’ teeth. Anyone who is wearing braces is more susceptible to cavities forming, but with the majority of braces wearers being in the younger generation, kids especially need to keep their braces and teeth clean. If you are looking for a pre-Halloween or post-Halloween checkup to guarantee your teeth (and your braces) are in their best shape call Ahava Orthodontics today to schedule your appointment.
