It will come as no surprise to read that most Halloween candy is not good for braces. There are very few sweets that are truly braces-friendly. But don’t despair if you have conventional metal braces. You can still indulge in Halloween treats without damaging your brackets and wires – it just takes some awareness and serious willpower.
Candy for Braces-Wearers to Avoid
For many people, the 2020 tradition was to stay home on Halloween, eating all the candy they didn’t give out to trick-or-treaters. This year, many more people plan to be out and about making up for lost time – thank goodness Halloween is the season of masks! – collecting candy and enjoying the leftovers at home.
If you’re someone who wears braces, or even Invisalign, it’s important to know what’s good for your teeth and what could have you making an emergency call to your orthodontist on November 1. If you want to keep your hardware protected, stay away from the usual suspects that are chewy or crunchy, including:
- Gummy worms
- Airheads
- Taffy
- Tootsie Rolls
- Twizzlers
- All hard candy
Top Candies in Pennsylvania
According to CandyStore.com, Pennsylvania’s top three favorite Halloween candies are:
- Hershey’s mini-bars
- M&Ms
- Skittles
This should come as no surprise since Pennsylvania is the home to Hershey, after all. And, it’s a good thing too – as chocolate is one of the best candies an orthodontic patient can eat.
Anyone who has a Center City orthodontist but lives in New Jersey will want to know their state’s favorite sweets too:
- M&Ms
- Tootsie Pops
- Skittles
M&Ms are indeed chocolate, but the crunchy candy shell, no matter how small, can easily get stuck in your brackets and wires. It will require some meticulous brushing and flossing and picking to get all those colorful pieces out completely. As for Tootsie Pops, no orthodontist or dentist ever recommends lollipops because of all the sugar it deposits on your teeth for a lingering time – plus, a lollipop with taffy or gum inside is a definite no-no for braces-wearers
If you prefer to go with America’s favorite, that works out in braces-wearer’s favor too, because the most beloved Halloween candy nationwide is Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Chocolate and peanut butter – easy on the teeth, and even a little punch of protein (because even orthodontists can find a way to make candy acceptable).
Things to Keep in Mind
- Have patience. Whatever candy is available during Halloween can be found any other time of year too. Sure, those treats are super-tempting in their festive, glow-in-the-dark wrappers, but they’re the same candy that’s in the candy aisle all year long. Start building a list of the goodies you’ll be thrilled to dig into again once your braces are removed – won’t be long now!
- Everything isn’t off-limits. You may lament all the gummy and hard candies you can’t have, but chocolate is always available. Soft, creamy, easy-to-melt-in-your-mouth chocolate.
- Choose carefully. If you’re all-in on the chocolate, that’s good for your teeth, just make sure you stick with the soft chocolate and avoid any that has nuts, caramel, or sticky centers that could wreak havoc on your hardware.
Have a Happy Halloween, even with braces. If you want to learn more about keeping your brackets and wires safe and free from harm, contact Drs. Roberts & de Marsche in Center City or schedule a consultation.