Avoiding Sticky Situations!

Happy “Tooth-Day”!

Farah Flossit here…wishing you all a lovely fall day!

The month of October is not just about Spooky Monsters, but also about keeping the Mouth Monsters away!  In light of National Orthodontic Health Month, I would like to share some tips from The American Association of Orthodontists.  Ironically, the months of October through December are probably the busiest months for Orthodontists because of the re-occurring broken brackets and issues related to eating the wrong things during all the holidays.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) offers these five timely tips to protect braces, aligners and other orthodontic “appliances” you can give to your patients all 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 undergoing 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. Spooktacular news: Not all Halloween candy is off-limits! Good alternatives include soft chocolates, peanut butter cups or other melt-in-your-mouth varieties. The AAO even offers orthodontic-friendly recipes for Halloween on its website here.
5. Make a commitment to oral health. Deciding to avoid hard and chewy sweets before the Halloween season increases your rate of success – and reduces the likelihood that you’ll break braces.

The AAPD is always providing fun activities all year long!  Click on the image below and find out what your candy personality is:)
Are you sweet as candy? Take our Halloween Candy Personality quiz to find out! Plus, get expert tricks to scare the Mouth Monsters away for healthy, happy smiles all year long.

You know your kiddos best…for those that feel that their kids will have a hard time making the smarter candy choices, stay tuned for this year’s non-candy treat ideas.  With some creative and fun ideas, you can re-direct your little ones away from all the harmful sugar and toward some non-candy fun!

Thank you for tuning in on today’s Happy “Tooth-Day’s” report!

I look forward to chatting with you all next week!

In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter , Yelp, Youtube,  & Pinterest  to hear all about our daily news! You can always call or email us with any questions, concerns, to make an appointment, or for a complimentary Ortho Consultation.

Your Friend,

Farah Flossit (Special Agent Flossit)