Halloween and Braces - a scary pair

Halloween is a fun time for most - dressing up, trick-or-treating from house to house, and then pouring out the treasures onto the table or floor to sort and munch.

But beware, most candies given out are not good for braces. Why? Because they are hard, sticky or chewy. And those are the foods that will cause braces to come loose, archwires to bend, and the colored ties to come off.

We typically see a significant increase in loose brackets right after Halloween. Hmmm! I wonder why???

Now, as a father, and a realist, I don't expect kids (or adults) in braces not to go trick-or-treating. But there are some guidelines for candy that's "OK" for braces and candy that's "BAD" for braces.

As I look at the candy we've picked to give out, I see some that orthodontic patients can eat, and some that an orthodontist would prefer their patients not to eat.

Let's look first at the candy that I would say is OK for a braces patient:

1) Reese's peanut butter cups (room temperature)
2) Hershey's Chocolate bar (without nuts)
3) Kit Kar bar (room temperature)
4) Milky Way (room temperature)
5) 3 Musketeer Bar (room temperature)

You get the idea!!

Let's look now at candies that are in the DANGER zone for braces patients:

1) Frozen or refrigerated candy bars of any type
2) Skittles
3) Now&Later
4) Whoppers
5) Lollipops
6) Tootsie rolls
7) Snickers bars (and other candy bars with nuts)

Etc.!!!

So, it's OK to enjoy the treats from your Halloween adventures. But be selective about the treats you eat.

Maybe you can set a a trading system with friends that don't have braces and trade your DANGER candies for OK candies. Remember that anytime you have a loose bracket, your orthodontic treatment will last longer.

Have a great time and stay safe - watch out for cars and ghouls!!