At this time of year, all braces-wearers are in danger of falling for Halloween tricks. You just want that one sweet you haven’t had for weeks or months. You just want to have fun. Enjoying October 31 is possible, but it doesn’t have to be at the expense of your orthodontia. Here is how to get through this tasty holiday without derailing your braces treatments.
Avoid Temptations
Yes, Halloween comes only once a year and you’ve been good about not eating what you aren’t supposed to where your braces are concerned, but this isn’t the holiday to give in to temptation. Those brackets and wires are tough but they’re still just as sensitive as they’ve always been. The last thing you want to do is give yourself a “yes” day and dig into taffy, licorice, lollipops, or other chewy and hard candies and find yourself at the orthodontist on November 1.
Take Your Trays Out
Invisalign wearers beware. October 31 is no time to slack on good behavior where your aligners are concerned. Continue to remove your trays for every meal, snack, and sweet or spooky treat. If you don’t, you run the risk of damaging the appliances by breaking, staining, or cracking them. Best practices here: Eat all the goodies you want at one time, clean your teeth, put your trays back in, then head out for haunting.
Keep Your Aligners In
Invisalign still needs to be worn 20 to 22 hours a day, even on special occasions. They won’t get in the way of your costume or selfies or Halloween fun because they’re clear and hardly noticeable, so keep them in exactly the way they’re supposed to be. You can smile wide for photos and laugh loudly with friends and do it all confidently thanks to this clear orthodontic treatment.
Remember the Benefits
If you find yourself tempted to have “just one” chewy, sugary treat that tugs on your brackets and wires, remember the treatment you’re undergoing. The benefits of wearing braces are many, and while you may not see them right away, they are working hard to give you a gorgeous, healthy smile that will last for a lifetime. The last thing you want to do is interfere with all that hard work because you couldn’t resist one sweet.
Stay Focused on Straight Teeth
Your orthodontist understands that accidents happen, brackets come off, wires get broken, problems occur. Do whatever you can though to avoid spurring on any complications like this – your teeth and your orthodontist will thank you.
Have questions about making braces work on Halloween? Call Soleil Orthodontics or schedule an orthodontic evaluation with Dr. Soleil and her team to get the scoop about your oral health.
