National Orthodontic Health Month
For those of you who may not know, October is National Orthodontic Health Month. This is a month-long observance sponsored by our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) that’s designed to spread awareness of the importance of good orthodontic health. For the entire month of October, orthodontists across the country as well as educators, dental professionals, teachers and others work to raise public awareness about the positive impact orthodontic treatment can have on both long-term dental health and self-esteem.
The doctors and staff at Bowers Orthodontic Specialists will be stressing the importance of having a healthy and attractive smile all month long. We will also be reminding our patients of how crucial it is to do a great job of brushing & flossing while they’re being treated by their Bloomington orthodontist. When you do an excellent job of cleaning your teeth, you can significantly lower your risk for developing a problem like tooth decay that can extend the time you must spend wearing braces.
No one knows for sure if it’s just a quirk that National Orthodontic Health Month is observed at the same time we’re celebrating Halloween. But it is ironic that this important observance is taking place at the same time when kids are out collecting lots of candy and other sweet treats that are not good for the teeth.
Halloween Candy To Avoid When You’re Wearing Braces
There are many types of Halloween candy that people wearing braces should not eat because they’re “braces-busters” that can play ghastly tricks on your appliances. So when you’re out trick-or-treating or having fun at parties, steer clear of these candies and other sweets that can damage and break your braces:
- Candy corn
- Caramel & candy apples
- Popcorn balls
- Taffy
- Jelly beans
- Candy containing nuts
- Hard candy
- Caramel
- Starburst
In short, you should not eat any candy that is chewy, hard, crunchy, sticky or gooey. You can enjoy some other treats during Halloween that are braces-friendly like chocolate that melts in your mouth, peanut butter cups, mint patties, cupcakes and soft cookies. Just remember to brush and floss your teeth very well after eating so you can avoid getting cavities.
Happy Halloween!
The team at Bowers Orthodontic Specialists would like to wish all our patients and their families a safe and happy Halloween! We are always happy to speak with you so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your treatment or what you should or shouldn’t eat when wearing braces!