If it’s your first Halloween with braces, then you might be excited to stock up on candy. There may be some seasonal favorites that you want to indulge in, however, you might’ve wondered what sweets are safe to eat during your treatment. Before you think that you’ll miss out on this spooky holiday, some are definitely orthodontic-friendly! Here is what you should have and which ones you need to avoid.
What Halloween Candies Can I Have with Braces?
While going through the many candies you’ll get can be exciting, be sure to pick out the options that are safe for your shifting smile and trade or give away the rest! Out of your Halloween pail, you should get the:
- Chocolates: When enjoying this treat, you should enjoy that it’s either soft or plain. Any that has nuts in them can increase your odds of breaking a bracket, so be sure to read the wrapper before you tear into it. Also, anything that has caramel or toffee should be avoided.
- Soft Candies: Fruit chews, cotton candy, peanut butter cups, and marshmallows are some options that are easy to chew through. However, it’s important that you brush after indulging in them in case any sugar is stuck in your smile.
- Certain Baked Goods: Soft cookies and cupcakes are popular choices that you may not get while trick-or-treating, but rather at a party. Just be sure that they don’t have any tough inclusions that can spell bad news for your braces.
Which Ones Should I Avoid?
As a little reminder, it doesn’t hurt to know which treats can be harmful to your smile. Here are some options to avoid:
- Taffy and other chewy candies can get stuck between your wires and brackets. It can be a task trying to get rid of them.
- Caramel, candy apples, and chewy candy are difficult to get through and cause trouble for your braces.
- Hard treats can not only break a bracket, but chip your tooth if you aren’t careful!
Regardless of the sweets that you indulge in, it’s important to do your oral hygiene when it’s time to call it a night. While you may be tired from all the fun you had, sugars that are stuck in your smile can lead to cavities. Taking just a few extra minutes can help you avoid any dental problems later on.
Instead of spending your Halloween worried about messing with your orthodontic treatment, stick to the braces-friendly candy! Avoid the ones above and ensure that you can still partake in the festive sweets while keeping your treatment on track.
About the Practice
Dr. Payam Ishani is a proud orthodontist who is here to help the Oklahoma City community get the straighter grins they love. He offers a wide range of treatments, including traditional braces, so you can find one that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle. While Halloween is a great season to have some themed treats, Dr. Ishani is here to help ensure you don’t have any delays by answering all your questions about what’s safe to eat or not.
If you want to gear up for the holiday, schedule an appointment or call his office at (405) 254-5094.