Save Braces: How to Avoid a Sticky Situation this Halloween

Halloween is around the corner and for teenagers and preteens with braces – and parents responsible for treatment costs —- Halloween treats can be a real horror, breaking and loosening braces and retainers and even potentially prolonging treatment.

Thankfully there are a few orthodontist approved tricks to help keep braces and brackets safe, treatment on course and teeth healthy while still letting those with braces enjoy a proper Halloween sugar high. Dr. Tom Pitts, Damon System orthodontic expert, says:

1. Encourage brace wearing candy lovers to choose soft, melt in your mouth, sugar-free items over hard, chewy, sticky, sugar rich candies. This means, suggesting that children stray away from enticing caramel candy apples and hard brittle that can loosen brackets and wires and break teeth. Instead offer teens smooth, sugar-free peanut butter cups and chocolate kisses.

2. Get creative! Make homemade smoothies or milkshakes with a festive twist for teens with braces. This year, consider supplying your Halloween party with homemade treats such as delicious reduced sugar cream pies and parfaits with fresh fruits and whipped cream.

3. Don’t allow teens with braces to indulge in Halloween treats all throughout the day. Limiting sugar intake to one time of day, rather than consuming small pieces throughout the day, can reduce the teeth’s exposure to detrimental sugars.

4. As always, caring for teeth after consuming treats is crucial for all teens with braces, especially those attempting to eat jolly ranchers! Be diligent about dental hygiene and teach teens to brush and floss after eating Halloween candy, to remove excess sugar and trapped particles from the mouth.

5. Check in with your child’s orthodontist for more braces-friendly Halloween tips. Many Damon System orthodontists offer Halloween candy buy-back programs to help reduce candy consumption and encourage proper oral health while supporting charity.

By Dr. Tom Pitts, Damon System