La Habra/Chino Hills, CA – As Halloween is approaching, you probably have visions of piles of candy to enjoy after a night of trick-or-treating. If you wear braces, you may also be getting a bit worried about what you can enjoy without damaging your braces. Dr. Robert Gire, a La Habra/Chino Hills orthodontist, has some tricks to ensure you can enjoy those tasty treats safely.

1. Stick to candies with soft chocolate or other easy to eat fillings. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a great option, as are Hershey’s Kisses, 3 Musketeers bars and even plain M&Ms.
2. Avoid anything hard or crunchy, such as Snickers, 100 Grand Bars, and anything with nuts or toffee. Jawbreakers and Gobstoppers are also on the list of candies to avoid.
3. Say no to anything too sticky or chewy. Taffy, Starbursts, Skittles, licorice, and other chewy candies can pull on your brackets and wires.
4. Make a trade. Chances are good you’ll get a lot of candies that are on the do not eat list. Ask a sibling or friend to trade with you so you can switch out the crunchy, chewy or sticky treats for ones that won’t jeopardize your braces.
5. Keep that toothbrush handy. We want you to enjoy Halloween, but we don’t want to see your smile compromised. Brush and floss after indulging in treats to keep cavities at bay. If you can’t brush right away, drink a big glass of water to help wash away those sugars. Water will wash away the sugary debris, keeping it from building up on your braces and teeth. Even if you are eating braces-friendly candies, that sugar can still wreak havoc on your smile.
6. If you use Invisalign, be sure to wear the aligners as directed and remove them when enjoying snacks. You may be tempted to take the aligners out to enjoy your costume, but remember that the aligners can only work when they are in your mouth – that means wearing them a minimum of 22 hours a day. Eating with the aligners in may damage them which can affect your treatment.

Even if you stick to the “good” candies list, we know that accidents can happen. If you suffer damage to your braces during Halloween or in the days following, don’t panic. Dr. Gire offers these tips:

1. If you have a broken bracket, check to see if it is still attached to the wire. If it is, you can use orthodontic wax to hold it in place until you can get in to see your orthodontist.
2. Orthodontic wax can also be placed on a broken wire to prevent it from injuring the inside of your mouth. If the wire has come loose from the bracket, you can use a pencil eraser or cotton swab to gently guide the wire back into place. If the wire is sticking out too far, you can use a pair of fingernail clippers to carefully clip the wire right behind the last bracket to which it is attached.
3. Call your orthodontist right away if you have damaged your braces or other orthodontic appliance. Your braces can only guide your teeth to their ideal locations if the braces are in proper working order. Your orthodontist will schedule you in as soon as possible to correct any problem you may be having.

“Halloween doesn’t have to be a scary time for orthodontic patients,” says Dr. Gire. “With some planning and care, you can enjoy Halloween every bit as much as your non-braces wearing friends do.”