Halloween and braces can be a scary combination. Think: nutty candy bars, caramel apples and candy corn that can damage retainers and braces and make Halloween memorable for all the wrong reasons. On top of that, some traditions, such as bobbing for apples, are not conducive to kids with braces. As you plan your Halloween party, even if you don't have a little one with braces, keep those kids in mind so they can enjoy the Halloween fun and don't feel like they're missing out. Some trick-or-treat sweets don't even have to be that sweet. Consider other, more nutritious (and not always edible) trick-or-treat giveaways.
Skip anything that is tough to chew. Candy bars or sweets which contain nuts are no-nos. Anything that requires a bit more gnawing, even for those with perfect teeth, should not be an option. This includes sweets containing caramel, popcorn or anything with a rubbery consistency, such as taffy, licorice and jelly beans. When it doubt, skip it. That $4 bag of candy can become very expensive if you have to fork out hundreds of dollars to repair the damage a bit of candy does to orthodontia.
Opt for goodies with a soft, mushy consistency. Peanut butter cups are acceptable as long as the nuts in the peanut butter are crushed very small. Instead of candy apples, opt for healthier sliced apples. It's recommend that you remove the skin and slice them very fine. Orange (in honor of the pumpkin) smoothies and chocolate milkshakes are a great option for parties. Parfaits and orange jello are good options, and candy bars aren't completely off-limits, as long as the treats don't contain nuts or caramel (think of bars like Mars).
Be careful of certain games and activities which may harm braces. If your child is going to a party, make sure they know that bobbing for apples, for example, is off-limits. Even though the child isn't necessarily gnawing on an apple, the action of grabbing the apple with one's teeth can cause a lot of damage in just a few seconds. If you are planning parties, incorporate other games, so even kids with braces can enjoy them.
Bake. Don't rely on the big supermarket bags of candies when your child has braces. There are a lot of great treats available so the child doesn't feel like she is missing out; they just require a bit more time. Make some soft cupcakes, cakes with sweet orange frosting or even bon bons. As long as it's soft and doesn't contain anything chewy or hard, you'll be good to go. If you're in a big hurry, your local bakery often has Halloween cupcakes and brownies (without nuts) on hand.
Make sure the child practices good dental habits. All children, regardless of whether they have braces or not, should brush and floss as soon as possible after getting a belly-full of sweets. It's all the more important when a child has a mouth full of orthodontia.
Incorporate non-food goodies. Think about other treats you can pass out to trick-or-treaters besides food. Buy small cans of play-dough in festive Halloween colors. How about noisemakers, or those little plastic spider rings? Kids love Legos. A small Lego package would be an unexpected giveaway. Think in terms of party favors and not necessarily sweets which are bad for a child's dental and overall health.
Take part in candy buy-backs. If your child gets a lot of candy he can't eat, there are orthodontists that participate in candy buy-backs. They'll actually pay the child with cash or with non-food prizes in return for their bags of candy. Aspen Orthodontics will be doing a buyback with Impressions Dental on Tuesday, November 1st. Earn $1 per pound of candy for you and .50 a pound for your school!
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
