Celebrating National Orthodontic Health Month

For most children, October means one thing: Halloween candy. For orthodontists, it’s a month for embracing a beautiful, healthy smile in honor of National Orthodontic Health Month.

The American Association of Orthodontist has offered five timely tips to protect braces, aligners and other orthodontic “appliances” while protecting teeth from decay.

1. Avoid sticky situations with your braces and aligners. Stay away from hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy candy and snacks. These include caramel, gummies, licorice, taffy, bubblegum (even the sugarless kind), jelly beans and soft drinks.

2. Say “boo” to hard treats – including hard-shelled peanut candies, nuts or nut-filled candies, taco chips and popcorn (especially unpopped kernels). And whether in orthodontic treatment or not, we advise that no one should ever chew ice.

3. Brush up! Sweets can cause cavities, which means brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season. Orthodontic patients should be especially vigilant about brushing and flossing after consuming sugary or starchy foods.

4. The good news is that not all Halloween candy is illegal. As a substitute, soft chocolates, peanut butter cups, and other melt-in-your-mouth treats work well.

5. Make an effort to improve your oral health. Avoiding hard and chewy sweets before Halloween increases your chances of success while decreasing the chances of your braces breaking.

Feel free to contact our board certified orthodontic specialists if you have any questions and concerns. Happy October!