By a board-certified orthodontist and mom of 3 girls
Still have Halloween questions? Here are five more tips to keep your child’s braces safe and the night fun.
1. Sweet Treats to Skip (For Now!)
Some candies are just a little too tough on braces! Taffy, caramels, Starburst, Laffy Taffy, and gummies can pull off brackets and bend wires, while jawbreakers, hard lollipops, candy apples, and nuts can break them. Save those favorites for after treatment and look for tooth-friendly treats your child can enjoy instead.
2. Brush and Floss Well After the Treats
Sugar loves to hide around brackets and under wires, so a thorough brush and floss that night is a must. Have your child brush for a full two minutes, paying extra attention to the gumline and around each bracket. A floss threader, interdental brush, or water flosser makes cleaning between teeth and under the wire much easier, especially after a candy-heavy evening.
3. Drink Water With Treats
Water is an easy way to protect your child’s smile on Halloween night. Sipping it with candy rinses away sugar and loosens sticky bits trapped around brackets and under wires, which helps prevent cavities and white spots. Send a reusable water bottle along for trick-or-treating and skip sugary drinks like soda and juice.
4. Cut Your Treats Into Smaller Pieces
Sometimes it is not just what you eat, but how you eat it! Biting directly into hard or crunchy foods can put unnecessary pressure on your brackets and wires. If you are enjoying a brace-friendly treat, cut it into smaller pieces and chew carefully with your back teeth when appropriate.
5. Pack a Braces Emergency Kit
A little prep goes a long way on Halloween night! Toss orthodontic wax, a small mirror, a travel toothbrush, and floss in your bag before heading out. Wax can cover a poking wire or sore spot until you can reach our office, and the mirror helps you see exactly what’s going on. If a bracket comes loose or a wire pokes, don’t try to fix it at home. Just give us a call, and we’ll take care of it.