It’s almost Halloween, the holiday of trick or treating, fancy costumes and endless confectionery. Although it is a fun holiday for all, it’s a little more complicated for those wearing braces and a nightmare for many orthodontists. It’s already known that sweets and treats have the potential to break brackets and bend wires, meaning more appointments to fix those issues. So here are a few treats you can and can’t eat this Halloween:
Can’t Eat
Sorry guys but Toffee Apples are out of the question. Their tacky texture can result in your braces sticking or even breaking, and the last thing you want to be doing is visiting the orthodontics when you could be having spooky fun with friends.
Can Eat
Thankfully there is away around it. You can still enjoy this sickly sweet treat: simply cut the apple up into chunks, then drizzle or dip in it in a melted caramel sauce.
Can’t Eat
Sticky and chewy sweets are the #1 enemy of braces as they add a huge amount of pressure, and they will probably hurt your teeth in the process too. So this means you’ll have to, reluctantly, stay away from sweets like Gummy bears, Jelly beans, Star bursts, Wine gums and Maoams.
Can Eat
The safest candy to eat is by far chocolate, as the soft texture of chocolate is unlikely to do any damage. So thankfully this well desired food is not off limits and means you can gobble up all your favourites like Cadbury giant buttons, Aero bar, Flake and Maltesers. But you should still be careful – biting into frozen chocolate or chewy chocolate bars, like double deckers or snickers, could damage the equipment on your front teeth.
Can’t Eat
Popcorn. Yes it may look fluffy and unthreatening, but it deceives by hiding kernels that could and will get caught between teeth, wires, and brackets. It’s frustrating to then try and remove those tiny pieces, and can sometimes even cause an infection.
Enjoy Candy During Halloween, But Don’t Forget About Oral Hygiene
So there it is, all the treats that you should avoid and the ones which are slightly more braces friendly. Despite this you should remember to maintain oral hygiene and prevent problems like cavities and gum disease. This means brushing your teeth at least twice a day, especially after consuming Halloween treats, and floss at least once a day to make sure you get all the spots you may have missed.
Oldham Orthodontics gladly serves all ages with quality orthodontic treatment, so if you have any questions about your orthodontic oral health feel free to contact us on 0161 622 0987. And finally, we hope you have a spooky, fun and safe Halloween!