This Halloween, avoid a creepy jack-o’-lantern smile by staying away from treats that can ruin your braces and damage your teeth. October is National Orthodontic Health Month, so don’t give your orthodontist a reason to “boo” you and cause you to keep your braces longer than planned.
When trick-or-treating, avoid hard, chewy, and sticky candy that can wiggle its way behind your wires and pop off brackets. Candies that are nightmarish for your braces include:
- Suckers
- Mints
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Sours
- Taffy
- Jelly beans
- Licorice
- Gum
- Fruit chews
- Caramel
- Candy apples
While reaching into your Halloween candy stash, grab these softer candies that are less harmful to your braces instead:
- Hershey’s chocolate bars or chocolate bars without nuts and caramel. Break bars into small pieces to avoid a scary situation!
- Plain M&Ms
- Peanut butter cups
- Soft cookies
- Melt-in-your mouth candy
- If all else fails, indulge your Halloween sweet tooth with a bowl of ice cream, a smoothie, or Jello!
Is the thought of celebrating Halloween with braces giving you a fright? Don’t worry — the American Association of Orthodontists has compiled a list of Halloween recipes that are safe to eat with braces. Remember to follow these guidelines and always brush after any sweet treats. Have a happy and safe Halloween from all of us at Bennett Orthodontics!