Halloween is almost here! That means lots of candy and sugary treats are going to be handed out. We just previously posted an article with Dental Tricks and Tips to help you maintain a healthier smile during the Halloween season. In addition, If you have braces, this article is written for you! Having braces is great, straightening your teeth is going to help you in so many ways.. not just appearance, but overall health too. One of things to remember while you wear braces, you have to be a little more careful of what you eat.
Remember these two things:
- Crunchy, hard foods can knock the braces off.
- Sticky gooey foods and snacks get stuck in the braces and cause cavities
SOO this Halloween, BEWARE of the type of treat or candy you get. Of course all this junk food is not great for anyone, but with braces it is worse. Certain treats can be very damaging to your braces which can delay your treatment time. In other words, you can be in braces much longer.
STAY CLEAR OF THE FOLLOWING:
- Hard candies
- Chewy candies
- Caramels
- Taffy
- Nutty goodies
- Jelly beans
- Licorice
- Bubble gum
- Lollipops
- Tootsie Rolls
- Sour candies
- Caramel Apples
- Popcorn Balls
- Pretzels
Unfortunately, you also have to avoid even the most favorable candies like Skittles and M&M’s. Those tiny pieces of candy love to slip inside wires and pop off brackets. It may seem like there is nothing left for you to eat, but don’t worry! We have some recommendations so you can still participate in the Halloween fun.
SAFE TO EAT WITH BRACES:
- Soft chocolate (Hershey’s Kisses are in the clear!)
- Peanut butter cups (Go for those Reese’s Cups!)
- Gelatin treats
- Ice cream
- Smoothies
- Apple cider
- Cookies and crackers (Just be careful about hardness.)
- Plain Apples (Cut up into bite size pieces first)
- Kit Kat Bars
- Three Musketeers
- Malt Balls
- Sweet Tarts
- Peppermint Patties
- Cookies and Cream
- Snow Caps
- Root beer floats
HOW TO KEEP YOUR TEETH FROM ROTTING:
Even though these foods are safe to eat if you have braces, too much of it is not good for your teeth. Careful how much you consume and how frequently. Too much sugar and eating it too often can lead to cavities and tooth decay. All that hard work your braces are doing won’t be as worth it, if your teeth are rotting!
Your Water Irrigator is Your Friend!
We recommend using a water irrigator (or pik) after snacking to flush out all the sugar and any food particles that get trapped between the braces.
It is so important to clean your teeth after snacking! Braces like to hold on to food and if you don’t clean properly, food sit on your teeth eating away at your tooth enamel. A Water irrigator uses pressured water to clean between the teeth and brac
es, but remember you still need to brush!
Need an Irrigator? We have professional, high-quality Water irrigator available for purchase at the office, call us 203-409-8834
Still enjoy your Halloween treats, but just remember to flush the sugar out and don’t eat sugar constantly. That is what causes the most problems. See our previous Article for additional ways to keep your smile healthy. And don’t forget to schedule your professional dental cleaning to remove any plaque and bacteria that get stuck between your braces!
Dental Insurance & Flex Spending- Use it Or Lose it Forever!
The end of year is coming soon! If you have dental insurance, you have dental benefits. This is a reminder to use it before they expire forever. Find out what benefits you have left, call us 203-409-8834
