For children, Halloween is one of the best times of the year because who doesn’t love free sweets? While it’s fun to get dressed up in spooky costumes and go trick or treating, tucking into all the sweet treats will cause harm to your braces. Continue reading this blog to find some tasty alternatives.
Jelly
If your kids love gummy sweets then a softer alternative has got to be jelly. Jelly is an easy treat you can make at home or buy ready-made. It is completely safe to eat with braces as unlike gummy sweets, there is no risk of causing damage to your braces. Top tip: why not try using a Halloween themed jelly mould such as a spider or brains for an extra scary snack.
Chocolate
There are lots of chocolate bars that are unsafe for metal braces. Anything containing nuts, fruit, and chewy toffee is a no go. They will put your braces in danger of snapping, bending or becoming stuck. Luckily, plain chocolate is safe as long as it’s soft and at room temperature. For a healthy option, you could try dipping fruit in melted chocolate, we like bananas and strawberries.
Sherbert
Sherbert and any melt in your mouth sweets will not cause damage to your braces as they are gone in a few seconds! If you do opt for something like this, make sure you have no more than the recommended serving suggestion. Sweets like these are high in sugar and while they taste good, they don’t do much good in keeping your mouth healthy.
Hot chocolate
Hot chocolate is delicious and guess what? It’s also safe for braces. Make sure if your child has Invisalign aligners that they take them out before consuming as hot chocolate can cause clear braces to warp in shape and become discoloured, so take them out before drinking, then brush your teeth after.
Brush after eating
You must encourage your children to brush their teeth 30 minutes after eating any sweet treats, especially if they have Invisalign braces as this helps them avoid bacteria buildup and prevent dental problems such as gum disease. Once they have finished eating, it’s a good idea to give them a glass of water to drink. This will help wash away the sugar and any food that may have become stuck.
If you have any problems with your braces this Halloween, make sure you contact us on 0161 768 0931 to book an emergency appointment.