Halloween is upon us. The good news is, that if you have braces, you can use them to your advantage and make them part of your Old Hallow’s Eve costume—without even having to buy cheap knock offs! Think Katy Perry’s alter ego, Kathy Beth Terry.
The downside is, that you will also be surrounded by mountains of candy. And for those trick or treaters that wear braces, a bag full of candy and braces can be more tricky than treat.
Candy is not one of the friendliest types of foods when it comes to orthodontic appliances and your doctor will recommend that you steer clear of it while your appliances are on.
Sticky, chewy (which includes gooey), hard and crunchy foods are all on the list of foods deemed to be “no fly” zones. Unfortunately, that covers pretty much every type and form of candy that you will take home after knocking on your neighborhood doors.
All of those little pieces of candy may look innocent enough on their own, but Starbursts, Tootsie Rolls, Jolly Ranchers, bubble gum, taffy, anything with caramel in (or on) it, popcorn and peanuts can all impact your appliances and dental health.
As well as causing damage to archwire, the stress on teeth associated with chewing hard candy can snap (or pop) brackets off your teeth.
The nuts inside things like M&Ms are too hard and can break brackets or wires, whereas the chewy and sticky things (and there are many) will get stuck in your orthodontic appliances.
Additionally, with more to cling to and hide around, the sugars loaded into candy give all the bacteria in your mouth quite a boost, which can lead to increased plaque and eventually decalcification (the white spots) and cavities.
But there is good news, too. On average, braces only stay on for an average of two years, so you will only have to steer clear of Halloween candy and braces for a couple of years. It is a small sacrifice for a great smile, a good bite and healthy teeth and gums. If you absolutely have to get your candy fix, try plain chocolate and try to brush as soon as you can afterwards.
Make an appointment to see our experienced doctors at any of Orthodontic Associates’ nine convenient locations around Baltimore and see how we can help to make your time in braces less scary than you’d imagine.
