halloween

In this post, we’ll discuss braces-friendly Halloween candy. Halloween is a fun time for costumes and treats, and hopefully, fewer tricks. For those who are wearing braces, you can avoid a scare by avoiding certain scary treats. 

This year, Halloween is a bit different amid the pandemic. However, following CDC guidelines, you can still have a great time. Now more than ever, we need stress relief and a lighthearted escape. So long as you are safe, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy Halloween 2020 with your loved ones –even if it’s a quiet night watching Halloween movies at home.

Below, we offer some suggestions for treats to enjoy this year if you are wearing braces. By sticking to the soft, safer foods, you can avoid breaking a wire or bracket. Thus, you won’t need an emergency visit and keep treatment comfortable and on schedule.

See more about what foods to eat with braces anytime in our blog.

These Treats Are a Fright!

Halloween candy is tempting, but before you eat, remember to avoid any treats that are:

• Hard
• Crunchy
• Sticky
• Chewy
• Or will stain your braces

So, if you receive candy or another item that falls into one of these categories, it’s probably best to avoid it. All year, it’s best to limit sugary sweets and be sure to rinse, brush, and floss after eating snacks or meals.

Soft, Safer Treats to Enjoy

Below are a few treats that are softer and less likely to damage braces. 

• Kit-Kats
• Pixie Stix 
• Malt Balls 
• Soft cake 
• Apple cider
• 3 Muskateers
• Jell-O and pudding
• Ice cream and yogurt
• Doughnuts and soft cookies
• Peeled thinly-chopped apples
• Soft cheese puffs (never popcorn)
• Milkshakes and smoothies, floats
• Peanut butter cups and Reese’s Pieces
• Soft cookies and cupcakes without nuts
• Soft peppermint patties and Junior Mints
• Smooth pure chocolate that melts in the mouth (Kisses, Hershey bars without nuts)

Many of these candies are our favorites, with or without braces. So, you’re sure to find something to enjoy for Halloween. 

 

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Treats That Can Be a Nightmare

Many popular Halloween candies are a problem for those with braces. They fall into the categories we looked at before: Hard, Crunchy, Sticky, and Chewy. Thus, they can get stuck to wires and brackets and may result in an unplanned emergency visit to your orthodontist.

• Candy corns
• Tootsie Rolls
• Chewing gum
• Caramel and taffy
• Skittles and Starbursts
• Lollipops and hard candies
• Popcorn, chips, hard pretzels
• Licorice, gummies, and jelly beans
• Jawbreakers (always a bad idea)
• Nuts (except soft peanut butter)
• Apples and carrots (unless finely chopped and peeled)

If any of these treats are a favorite, don’t worry. By avoiding them for now, your braces will come off faster and more comfortably. Then, you’ll be able to enjoy them again. Even better, you’ll have a perfect smile!

Glaser Orthodontics is proud to offer world-class service to the Jefferson Valley, Westchester, and Putnam Counties, NY. 

We hope you have a wonderful and safe Halloween!

Call us anytime at 914.739.6500 with any questions about braces, Invisalign, or other orthodontic services.

Please, follow us on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news and updates.

 

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Here at Glaser Orthodontics we have a few recommendations to help care for your teeth when eating sugary sweets. The danger of sweets is that it can lead to tooth decay if not treated properly. Both Dr. Barry Glaser and the American Dental Association encourage proper care of your teeth all year long, but with the abundance of candy available this time of year, it’s time to be extra vigilant. Sour and Fruity Candies. The downside of sour candies is the large amount of acid contained in them. Starburst and Skittles are the worst for your child’s teeth since these candies have a low pH value, which is known to ruin enamel. It’s the low pH, or acid, that makes you pucker and it’s also what wears down the enamel on your teeth! Without the enamel coating, your teeth can get brittle and nerves can be exposed. Glaser Orthodontics recommends that you brush, or at a minimum, rinse your teeth after indulging in these candies. Hard Candies If hard candies are your favorite, keep this in mind. Hard candies take longer to dissolve so it’s like bathing your teeth in sugar and acid. The sugar stays in your mouth longer and the longer the sugar is in your mouth, the more vulnerable your teeth are to cavities and tooth erosion. Sugar creates an environment perfect for cavity and bad breath, causing bacteria to flourish. Again, Glaser Orthodontics encourages its patients to brush or rinse with a fluoride mouthwash. Sticky, Chewy Candies Love those sticky, chewy candies? Guess what, your braces and teeth are not a fan. Candies that include taffy, caramels, peanuts or nuts leave a sticky residue on your teeth and gums. This acts like an adhesive for bacteria which leads to tooth decay. These ingredients can also cause damage to your orthodontia, breaking your wires and brackets. To protect your braces, avoid the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients: All hard candies, All chewy candies,Caramel, Nuts, Licorice, Taffy, Jelly beans, Hard pretzels, Bubble gum, Popcorn (including unpopped kernels), Ice. Some Halloween goodies that are brace friendly include treats such as plain chocolate candies, milkshakes, pudding, cakes, and thinly sliced apples dipped in creamy chocolate sauce. For more information, a consultation, or quote, contact Dr. Barry Glaser and his team. Call Glaser Orthodontics at (914) 739-6400 or visit our office in Katonah, NY today!

Invisalign aligners make braces and Halloween candy easier. If you have Invisalign and plan on Trick or Treating this Halloween, Glaser Orthodontics near Montrose has some helpful hints on candies that are easier on braces.

People who wear braces are limited in what types of candy they can enjoy but Invisalign wearers have much more flexibility. Glaser Orthodontics warns that when you wear traditional braces, candy can destroy the metal work – which can mean costly and time-consuming repairs. Invisalign makes Halloween candy easier to enjoy.  Unlike traditional braces which have wires and brackets for candy to get caught it, Invisalign has removable aligners which avoids candy getting stuck. Invisalign makes it easier to enjoy that tasty snack at Halloween.

Even with Invisalign, Glaser Orthodontics says that you must take care of your teeth to prevent sugary substances from staying on your teeth and lead to tooth decay. So after enjoying your Halloween snack, remember to brush and floss your teeth before putting your Invisalign aligners back in. If you can’t brush right away, get some water to rinse your mouth out with.

Glaser Orthodontics near Montrose recommends that you try to avoid these types of candies whether you have traditional braces or Invisalign.

Sour candies have a large amount of acid. It’s that acid that makes you pucker. And the acids in sour candies wear down the enamel on your teeth. Without the enamel coating, your teeth can be brittle in addition to exposing some nerves. Glaser Orthodontics highly recommends brushing, or at a minimum, rinsing your teeth with a fluoride mouthwash after eating sour candies to get under your braces where there is sugar.

Hard candies take longer to dissolve so it’s like bathing your teeth in sugar and acid. The sugar stays in your mouth longer, and the longer the sugar is in your mouth, the more vulnerable your teeth are to cavities. Glaser Orthodontics encourages brace and Invisalign wearing patients to brush and/or rinse.

Sticky, chewy candies are not the best of friends with braces and teeth. Candies that include taffies, caramels, and peanut butter or are nut filled leave a sticky residue on your teeth and gums. These candies act like an adhesive for bacteria which leads to tooth decay. Again,brushing is best.

Enjoy Halloween this year while Trick or Treating near Montrose with your removable Invisalign aligners. Glaser Orthodontics reminds you to be safe and bring a flashlight and a toothbrush!