It is nearly impossible to avoid Halloween sweets at the end of October. The treats are everywhere, and they are delicious. Anyone who is seeing an orthodontist and wears braces but tends to overindulged at this time of year is at risk of destroying their teeth-straightening progress, damaging orthodontic materials, and ending up with cavities and other oral health problems.
1. Gummy Candy
Anything gummy – fruit snacks, gummy bears, gummy worms, chewing gum – is guaranteed to get stuck to brackets and wires. Plus, all this chewy stuff lands in between teeth and, if enough of it is eaten, can cause cavities. This reality goes for adults with braces and teens with braces.
2. Tough Taffy
Taffy is as dangerous as gummy candy, but perhaps even more so. Quite often, any taffy-like sweets (think Airheads, Starburst, Tootsie Rolls, or Twizzlers) that must be bitten into can pull hardware out after that bite without much trouble at all. Young orthodontic patients with a palatal expander or semi-permanent retainer are wise to stay away from this dangerous stuff.
3. Crunchy Bars
Candy bars filled with nuts are tempting for many people. But Snickers, Almond Joy, Payday, and especially that crunchy peanutty Butterfinger will do a number on braces. These ingredients get stuck relentlessly between teeth on a good day, let alone when there is metal present too.
4. Candy Apples
An apple is healthy, but braces-wearers can only enjoy this snack if it is skinned, sliced, and eaten with careful bites. A candy apple is coated in hard candy, caramel, or other tooth-pulling substance – biting into such a coating then attempting to get through to the apple can destroy braces.
5. Jawbreakers
Anyone who has ever sucked on a jawbreaker, lollipop, or hard candy is eventually tempted to bite down on the sweet to make the disintegration process faster. Doing so, unfortunately, can lead to damaged orthodontic work and broken teeth and restorations.
Halloween Candy to Eat with Braces
There is one type of Halloween candy that is a good choice for anyone who has braces: soft chocolate. This means a solid chocolate bar, chocolate kisses, peppermint patties, or peanut butter cups which are soft all the way through. Chocolate doesn’t linger on teeth or orthodontics and it’s easy to rinse away with water until there is time to brush and floss.
Be Patient
It may feel like October 31 is the only time to indulge in favorite sweets, especially when there are food restrictions because of braces, but sweets are available all year. Have patience during orthodontic treatment to cut down on any wire or bracket emergencies. The last thing anyone wants to do on November 1 is call the orthodontist for help with candy consequences.
Consult the Orthodontist
There is always sweet stuff to indulge in that won’t damage braces, like ice cream and smoothies. Many people discover they prefer alternatives to candy on a night known for overindulging. For anyone not sure about what they can and cannot enjoy on Halloween, contact Soleil Orthodontics in Woodinville, WA. Any damage to teeth and alignment methods requires an in-person visit, so schedule an appointment immediately.
