Top 5 Orthodontic Friendly Halloween Candy

October is National Orthodontic Health Month. Therefore, every October, thousands of kids are thinking about one thing, Halloween candy. For orthodontists, Halloween time is about educating patients to help avoid painful and sticky situations. Modern Orthodontics considers Halloween the perfect time of the year for patients to learn about orthodontic health and how we help patients achieve beautiful, healthy smiles. Also, everyone knows that Halloween candy always gives orthodontists a scare.

Modern Orthodontics, located in three convenient Central Florida locations, offers these tips to help our patients protect their braces, aligners, and other orthodontic appliances.

Let sticky foods go – If it’s hard, chewy, or crunchy, stay clear of it. Avoid caramel, taffy, bubblegum, licorice, gummies, or any snack that can cause damage to your braces or wires. In addition, be sure to scare away shelled peanut candies, nuts, or nut-filled candies, taco chips, and popcorn, especially unpopped kernels.

Choose soft foods – Decide to eat soft chocolate, peppermint patties, peanut butter cups, or other melt-in your mouth candies.

Choose to take your extra care – Sweets can cause cavities, which is why brushing and flossing are more important during the Halloween season. Orthodontic patients should be extra conscious about brushing and flossing immediately after eating sugary or starchy foods.

Set yourself up for success – Modern Orthodontics recommends parents keep orthodontic friendly treats on hand as substitutes for “off-limits” candies for trick-or-treating. Parents can also find free, Halloween themed recipes on sites such as Pinterest.

Stay committed to your oral health – Deciding to avoid hard and chewy sweets before the Halloween season increases your rate of success and reduces the likelihood that you will break brackets and wires.

Candy isn’t the only food that could cause harm to your braces; there are other foods you should avoid. If you have additional questions about maintenance for your braces or aren’t sure, please send us a text and we can help. At Modern Orthodontics we want our kids to have fun on Halloween. We believe there’s no need for our patients to feel left out. We want our patients to feel like they can enjoy an acceptable treat in moderation. It may be hard, but in the end, the payoff is a healthy, beautiful smile.

In Summary

There are specific guidelines that patients need to keep in mind when it comes to choosing candy and food in general if they or their child wears braces. Very sticky food is almost undoubtedly problematic. If it’s food that tends to produce tiny and sharp fragments, it might get lodged in the different components of the braces. Food that is very tough and sticky (caramel) can change the position of braces as you try to eat it. Unfortunately, there is a lot of Halloween candy choices, but with the right choices, you can enjoy the Halloween season and still hold onto your gorgeous smile.