Halloween is the perfect opportunity for both children and adults to indulge guilt-free in our favorite treats without thinking twice about the sugar content or calories. However, if you are the parent of a child with braces, you will need to keep a careful eye on what treats end up in your child’s trick-or-treat bag this year.
Here’s how you can help your kids enjoy trick-or-treating just as much as their non-braces-wearing friends and family while avoiding emergency trips to the orthodontist.
Keeping Candy Braces-Friendly
Limiting a kid’s Halloween candy indulgence can be a difficult task for any super parent. Thomas Orthodontics has found that the solution to this potential problem is to focus on what treats your kids can have rather than focusing on the treats that they can’t because of their braces.
Sorting Things Out
Establish a rule that no one eats candy out of their bags until you have a chance to go through it all after you are back at home. Sorting out the candy that they can have from what they can’t from the beginning to help keep gooey and tempting treats out of their hands and out of their braces. Pull out any hard candy or candy with nuts or caramel that can get stuck to the wires or between the brackets. Also, remove any gum, blow pops, and tootsie rolls.
Make Your Own Braces-Friendly Treats
Halloween can become even more tricky when your child is set to attend a friend or classmates Halloween party. Talk with your child about avoiding restricted foods while they are out of the house too because treats like candy apples and popcorn balls can cause a lot of damage to braces.
Consider making and bringing your own braces-friendly treats for your child as a replacement for the candy and treats that they will not be able to enjoy at a party. Ghoulish brownies or Halloween cupcakes are sure to be a hit with everyone, while also giving your child peace-of-mind that there will be treats they get to enjoy as well without feeling left out.
Just Say No To These Candies
You can’t control what candy the neighbors give out this Halloween, so offering a generous exchange policy for every piece of “non-braces” candy is a great way to avoid any frightening meltdowns. Two braces-friendly sweets for one non-braces friendly treat is an excellent trade-off for everyone.
Avoid any emergency trips to the orthodontist because of a broken wire or popped-off bracket by avoiding these Halloween treats that are damaging to braces:
- Hard candies
- Chewy candies
- Caramels
- Taffy
- Nutty candy
- Jelly beans
- Licorice
- Gum
- Sour candies
- Popcorn balls
Swapping dangerous candies for braces-friendly options such as Hershey’s chocolate bars, plain M&Ms, or Reese’s cups will help to eliminate the risk of damage to brackets and wires.
Spend Extra Time on Oral Hygiene
Candy will most likely be in the house for weeks after Halloween, so it is essential to monitor your child’s brushing and flossing post-holiday celebrations. Even while staying away from restricted types of candy, the extra sugar in your child’s diet can lead to additional plaque build-up which then leads to cavities. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day will help to wash away sugar, so it does not linger in the mouth.
Asking For Halloween Help
Are you unsure whether a specific candy or treat is “braces-friendly” for your child? Ask us for a list of safe Halloween treats at your child’s next orthodontic appointment. Thomas Orthodontics is always here to help answer any questions you may have to ensure your child’s first Halloween with braces is a great one.
