Say NO to Sticky Treats This Halloween

Photo provided by nutritiouseats.com

Is it just one of the greatest coincendence that the month children are estatic about celebrating Halloween, is the same month over 17,000 orthodontist spread awareness about orthodontic health? 

Being that sugary sweet treats are prevalent during Halloween, it gives our orthodontist here at Rhode Island Orthodontist Group a great opportunity to share tips on how to protect your teeth.

• Avoid sticky situations with your braces and aligners. Stay away from hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy candy and snacks. These include caramel, gummies, licorice, taffy, bubblegum (even the sugarless kind) and jelly beans.

• Say “boo” to hard-shelled peanut candies, nuts or nut-filled candies, taco chips and popcorn (especially unpopped kernels).

• Spooktacular news - not all Halloween candy is off-limits.  Good alternatives include soft chocolates, peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth varieties. The American Association of Orthodontists even offers orthodontic-friendly recipes for Halloween on its website at http://www.mylifemysmile.org/pressroom.

• Sweets can cause cavities which means brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season. Orthodontic patients should be especially vigilant about brushing and flossing after consuming sugary or starchy foods. 

These tips are escpecially important to our patients with braces, aligners and other orthodontic appliances. We want all of our patients to enjoy Halloween, but to also remember to take care of their teeth. While under orthodontic treatment your work on creating a beautiful new smile, let’s not let one night set us back. For more information on keeping your teeth healthy visit website for oral hygiene tips.