Braces-Friendly Do’s & Don’ts for Trick or Treating or Simply Enjoying the Spooky Season!

Ghostly Greetings! If you are getting orthodontic treatment, do you know which Halloween treats you or your child can safely consume in braces? Our Igel Orthodontics team has tooth- and braces-friendly tips to help you safely navigate the spinetingling festive Halloween celebrations. Believe it or not, you can balance your intake of treats safely by making wise choices and still experience the delights of spooky season! After all, who doesn’t want to eat, drink and be scary?

Tips for Trick or Treating with Kids

Is your child going door-to-door or trunk-to-trunk to trick-or-treat? Keep them well hydrated with water instead of sugary drinks to rinse away some of the harmful candy residue and oral acids from lingering bacteria. Water, especially fluoridated, is your smile’s best friend, thanks to the mouth-rinsing boost of water’s tooth-friendly saliva production. Water helps prevent dry mouth, bacterial build-up and tooth decay. The same can’t be said for sweetened drinks like sodas, sports drinks and even flavored water. Also, limiting treats to mealtimes when saliva production is highest is ideal as saliva rinses away food particles and you can brush and floss braces after eating.

“Fang”-tastic Tips for a Bewitching Halloween

When it comes to sweet treats, here are some great Do’s and Don’ts to follow! Sticky candies are the scariest because they have lots of sugary sweetness that cling to your teeth and braces. They take longer to rinse away, setting the stage for tooth decay as they linger in the mouth and stick to tooth surfaces.

Treat Don’ts

-Caramels
-Dried fruit snacks
-Gummy worms and gummy bears
-Fruit snacks
-Lifesavers
-Lollipops
-Skittles
-Sour candies
-Starbursts
-Taffy
-Tootsie Rolls
-Warheads

Treat Do’s

-Antioxidant-rich dark chocolates
-Peanut butter cups, KitKats, 3 Musketeers
-Marshmallows
-Soft cookies like oatmeal, chocolate chip or peanut butter
-Sugar-free soft candy
-Peanut butter with apple slices or celery sticks
-String cheese
-Yogurt sticks
-Witchy potions (green smoothies with coconut water and fruit)
-Cheez-It mini crackers, cheese puffs, Ritz Bits mini crackers

Hauntingly Healthy Hygiene

-Brush at least three times a day for two minutes using fluoride-enhanced toothpaste
-Floss daily after meals (water flossers are “fang”-tastic)
-Replace worn toothbrushes with fraying bristles
-Rinse with a recommended mouth wash

If it is time for your next orthodontic adjustment, we invite you to stop in for a spell. Don’t be a scaredy-cat, we witch you a bootiful Halloween. Our Igel Orthodontics team offers child and adult orthodontics in Omaha, NE, including braces and Invisalign®. Keep your teeth and braces safe with these toothy tips and your smile will thrive. Call (402) 330-1152 today!