October’s National Orthodontic Health Month & Halloween is just around the corner…

Treat Yourself Right This Halloween with the Treats You Choose to Eat….

We love October, and not just for the changing weather and Halloween excitement! It’s National Orthodontic Health Month.             

Every year, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recognizes October as a time to raise awareness of the benefits of orthodontic treatment. The AAO is the largest, oldest professional association for orthodontists in North America, and is comprised of more than 16,000 members.

In a month full of hard, sticky, crunchy, and chewy treats, it’s more important than ever to encourage patients to be kind to their teeth during treatment. If you have braces, try to avoid caramel, taffy, bubblegum, and candy with nuts. If you can’t keep yourself away from the sugar, opt for softer candy such as peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth treats.

As always, remember to brush and floss after consuming sugary foods. Exposing your teeth to sweets increases your risk of cavities, and allowing it to sit there can lead to decalcification, the loss of calcium from the teeth.

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters with braces. These treats can potentially cause damage that may prolong treatment. This is why the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) is providing tips for trick-or-treaters with braces.

Learn about which treats are friendlier to braces and which ones should be avoided. A few sweets can be okay occasionally, provided that the orthodontic patient remembers to brush and floss after eating. Below are guidelines for orthodontic patients so that they can enjoy the holiday and still be on pace to achieve their healthy, beautiful smiles.

BRACES-FRIENDLY TREATS 

In general, orthodontic patients should look for foods that are soft and easy to chew.

• Soft, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates
• Peanut butter cups
• Milk shakes
• Gelatin
• Peeled, thinly sliced apples
• Ice cream

TREATS TO AVOID 

In general, orthodontic patients should avoid treats that are sticky, hard, chewy or crunchy.

• Caramel
• Nuts (including candies that contain nuts)
• Licorice, jelly beans or taffy
• Hard pretzels
• Bubblegum
• Candy corn
• Lollipops
• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
• Taco chips
• Ice

Happy Halloween!!!