Halloween is right around the corner, and that means kids everywhere are getting excited for a night of spooky antics, fun costumes, and most of all, delicious treats! However, for patients with braces celebrating Halloween this year, there are some important things to keep in mind heading into the festivities. Most candies are devastating for braces, resulting in dislodged brackets, damaged archwires, and otherwise broken braces, so it's important to be very careful with what you eat when celebrating Halloween with braces. As your Cincinnati orthodontist, we at Martinez Orthodontics want to provide a few tips for navigating Halloween with braces safely.
Halloween Candies That Are Safe for Braces
A big part of taking care of braces is avoiding certain foods, as any food that's hard, crunchy, gooey, or sticky can get stuck in brackets and damage your braces. Unfortunately, the vast majority of candies fall under this category: chewy caramels, taffy, hard candies, and a host of other candies all pose a threat to braces. But fear not! You can still partake in the Halloween festivities. If you're celebrating Halloween with braces this year, just stick with candies like these:
- Chocolate: On the whole, chocolate is ok to eat with braces. While hard dark chocolate can pose a threat, softer chocolates like milk or white chocolate are usually fine for braces, especially if you let them melt in your mouth before biting down.
- Cookies: Cookies are another indulgence that normally won't hurt braces. Just make sure the cookies are soft but not too chewy, and if you have any doubt, simply cut them into small, bite-size pieces.
- Reese's Cups: The chocolate and peanut butter combination of a Reese's Cup is undeniably delicious, and thanks its softness, this is a perfectly acceptable option for a braces-friendly Halloween candy.
- Apples: Apples may not be the highlight of Halloween, but when cut into tiny pieces, they can be a great option for a braces-safe Halloween. For an extra treat, dip your apple pieces into melted chocolate!
- With Caution – Hard Candies: Normally, hard candies are absolutely forbidden for braces-wearers, as they can easily break off brackets and destroy your braces. However, if you trust your child to only lick or suck on the candies and never, ever bite down on them, they may be acceptable to eat with braces. This is risky, though, and should only be allowed if you absolutely trust your child to eat them with the utmost caution.
While these candies offer a relatively safe option for enjoying on Halloween, the truth is, no form of candy is "braces-friendly." That's because candies are packed with cavity-causing sugar, and your teeth are especially vulnerable to decay during orthodontic treatment. So no matter what you eat this Halloween, be sure to limit your consumption and thoroughly brush your teeth & braces immediately after eating.
Contact Your Cincinnati Orthodontist
The ghosts and ghouls of Halloween may be frightful, but the truth is that breaking or damaging your braces is an even scarier – and much more expensive – proposition. So while you should still join in the fun of Halloween this year, it's important to use caution and only indulge on treats that are safe for your braces. If you have more questions about navigating Halloween with braces, don't hesitate to reach out to us at our contact page. We look forward to hearing from you, and we wish you a spooky, fun, and braces-friendly Halloween!