By Dr. Matt Sandretti and the team at Elk Grove Orthodontics
Yes, you can enjoy Halloween with braces. The trick is choosing treats that won't bend a wire or knock a bracket loose: skip anything hard, sticky or chewy, reach for soft chocolate instead, and brush when the candy is done. And if a bracket does come loose, try not to worry. It's rarely an emergency, and it's a quick fix at our office.
Every October, families across Elk Grove ask us the same few questions about trick-or-treating with braces. Here are our answers, plus a simple plan for the night itself.
Which Halloween candy should you skip with braces?
Most Halloween braces trouble comes from a few kinds of candy:
- Hard candy. Biting into lollipops, jawbreakers and hard mints can snap a bracket right off the tooth.
- Sticky and chewy candy. Caramels, taffy, gummies, licorice and chewy fruit candies grab onto brackets and wires and can pull them loose. They also hold sugar against your teeth for a long time.
- Crunchy treats. Nuts, popcorn, popcorn balls, candy apples and toffee can bend wires, and popcorn hulls love to wedge under them.
- Bubble gum. It wraps around braces and is very hard to clean out. It can wait until your braces come off.
The American Association of Orthodontists gives the same advice: avoid sticky candy and anything with kernels that can get stuck in your braces. Our Life With Braces page has the full list of foods to avoid all year.
What Halloween treats are OK with braces?
You don't have to sit Halloween out. Softer treats that melt in your mouth are much easier on braces:
- Plain milk or dark chocolate, without nuts, caramel or toffee inside
- Soft peanut butter cups
- Soft cookies and brownies, without nuts
- Pudding cups and other spoonable treats
Chocolate also rinses off teeth more easily than sticky candy, which is one reason the American Dental Association calls it a smarter pick in its Halloween survival guide.
Wearing Invisalign® aligners? Take your aligners out before you eat anything, then brush, or at least rinse well with water, before you put them back in. Candy trapped under an aligner sits against your teeth for hours. You can learn more on our Invisalign page.
How can you enjoy candy without hurting your teeth?
A few habits make a big difference, braces or not:
- Have treats with a meal, not all evening. Your mouth makes more saliva during a meal, which helps wash away sugar and acid. Snacking on candy for hours keeps your teeth under attack the whole time.
- Drink water. A glass of water after a treat rinses away much of what's left behind.
- Brush and floss before bed. Brush for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, and clean around every bracket. A floss threader or water flosser makes it easier. Our brushing and flossing page shows how.
- Sort the haul together. When you get home, make a braces-friendly pile and a pile to share or set aside. Some families trade the rest for a small prize or a family outing.
Handing out treats at your door? Stickers, pencils, glow sticks and small toys are a fun option for kids with braces, food allergies or both.
What should you do if a bracket pops or a wire pokes?
First, don't panic. A loose bracket or a poking wire can be uncomfortable, but it's rarely an emergency. Here's what to do at home:
- A loose bracket that's still on the wire: leave it in place. If it rubs, cover it with a small piece of orthodontic wax.
- A bracket or piece that comes off completely: put it in a small bag or envelope and bring it with you to your visit.
- A poking wire: gently push it back down with a pencil eraser or the back of a spoon, or cover the end with wax.
- Sore spots: rinse with warm salt water. Our emergency care page has more tips.
Then call us at (916) 685-2164 so we can schedule a repair. A loose bracket can't do its job of moving the tooth, and several broken brackets can add time to treatment, so it's worth fixing soon.
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and our office is closed on weekends. If something comes loose over the weekend, use the tips above and give us a call on Monday. If there's an injury to the mouth or face, or severe pain or swelling, don't wait: get care right away.
Have a happy, braces-friendly Halloween
From all of us at Elk Grove Orthodontics, have a safe and fun night, whether you're trick-or-treating in your neighborhood, heading to a trunk-or-treat or handing out treats at home.
Questions about your braces or aligners? Call us at (916) 685-2164 or request an appointment. And if you're just starting to think about orthodontic care for your family, our post on finding the right orthodontist near Elk Grove is a good place to begin.
Sources
- American Association of Orthodontists: What Candy Can You Eat With Braces?
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: Halloween Survival Guide