Halloween Candy and Braces

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With Halloween around the corner, you may be thinking all things candy! However, if you have a child with braces this year, you will need to adjust what candies you hand out and have in the house.

We know it can be difficult for kids—after all, Halloween is the one day a year when they get to collect free sweets from neighbors, friends, and family.  However, with plenty of braces-friendly options, there are so many treats to spread healthy smiles! Here is our official list of the candies to avoid and ones to enjoy.

THE BAD:

Chewy, sticky, hard candies can damage appliances and wipe the smile off your child’s face. Potential issues include bent wires, broken brackets, damaged appliances like palatal expanders, or even chipped teeth! Steer clear when it comes to these types of treats and take a look at our list of alternatives.

  • Chewy and gooey: Think Laffy Taffy or Tootsie Roll. These candies are notorious for getting stuck in braces (and taking their time getting out). They can bend and fully lodge themselves into appliances—leading to damage and decay.
  • Hard and sticky: This includes lollipops, JOLLY RANCHERS, Werther’s Original, or LIFE SAVERS—anything that could potentially break an appliance when chewed. Even if your child doesn’t bite down, these suckable sweets expose teeth to sugar for long periods, leaving their teeth and appliances coated in sugar.
  • Crunchy chocolate: SNICKERS, ALMOND JOYS, and Peanut M&Ms are all good examples of candies to avoid. Biting down on a hard, crunchy layer of nuts, toffee, or caramel can pop off a bracket or chip a tooth.
  • Sour and acidic: These days, sours are all the rage! However, fruity, sour flavors come with lots of acids. Acidic candies like WARHEADS or sour gummies expose teeth to plenty of cavity-causing acids. If they also are chewy, it’s an automatic no for anyone with braces.

THE GOOD:

Even with some braces restrictions, there are plenty of delicious candies to enjoy! All of these options are safer alternatives to the sticky, hard, and chewy options above. However, with all sweets, it’s still important to brush and floss thoroughly after enjoying your night of trick-or-treating. For our patients in aligners, brushing and flossing should happen after ANY food or drink before putting trays back in.

  • Chocolate galore: We love chocolate at Hutta & Hutta Orthodontics! Whether you opt for a plain bar that melts in your mouth, a minty fresh YORK Peppermint Patty, a soft nougat like 3 MUSKETEERS, a wafer chocolate like a KitKat, or a REEESE’S Peanut Butter Cup, you have plenty of options! These will not break appliances and are easy to brush away since they melt quickly.
  • Other sugary treats: If you want something non-chocolatey, try Pixy Stix, Fun Dip (don’t bite the stick!), or soft cookies. While some of these options are certainly high in sugar, they won’t threaten your appliances as long as you practice excellent oral hygiene after enjoying them.

Remember to have fun this Halloween! Indulging in braces-friendly treats with proper oral hygiene won’t harm your child’s smile. If you have any questions or want to set up your next appointment, call Hutta & Hutta Orthodontics at 614-423-8177.