Halloween Candy- what to eat and what NOT to eat

 

🎃 Halloween Candy & Braces: What’s a Trick & What’s a Treat? 🍬

Essential Tips from Barnett Orthodontics in Barberton, Ohio

Halloween is creeping up fast — and at Barnett Orthodontics in Barberton, Ohio, we know this spooky season is one of the most fun (and sugary) times of the year! Whether you’re trick-or-treating around Akron, Norton, Wadsworth, Green, Copley, or other surrounding areas, it’s important to know which candies are safe for your braces — and which ones could lead to a 👀👀 SCARY 😈trip back to the orthodontist.

Here’s your ultimate guide to surviving Halloween with braces, brought to you by the smile experts at Barnett Orthodontics.

🚫 Candies to Avoid (A.K.A. The Real Villains):

Some treats are deliciously evil when it comes to braces. These are the ones that could send you straight to the orthodontist's chair:

• 💀 Hard candies (Jolly Ranchers, Life Savers, Blow Pops)
• 🕸️ Sticky stuff (caramels, taffy, toffee — they’re basically glue!)
• 🧟‍♂️ Chewing gum (even sugar-free can be risky)
• 🥜 Nuts & nutty candies (Snickers, PayDay — so good, so bad)
• 🍿 Popcorn kernels & hulls (Popcorn is okay… if you're super careful)

These candies can crack brackets, bend wires, and haunt your orthodontic progress. Don’t let a treat turn into a trick!

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✅ Braces-Safe Treats (AKA Sweet Heroes):

Don’t worry — you can still have a fang-tastic 😁 Halloween without wrecking your braces. Here are some dentist-approved goodies:

• 🍫 Plain chocolate (think Hershey’s bars, M&Ms – without nuts!)
• 🐻 Soft gummies (in moderation — avoid anything super sticky)
• 🍭 Cotton candy (melts in your mouth, not in your wires!)
• 😋 Non-sticky sour candies (bonus points if they’re freeze-dried)
• 🍪 Brownies, cupcakes & soft cookies (homemade wins the night!)

Just remember: moderation is key, and brushing afterward is a must!

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🦷 Halloween Survival Tips for Braces Wearers:

• 🪥 Brush and floss right after indulging — sugar loves to stick around!
• 💦 Rinse with water or mouthwash to keep things fresh.
• 🛡️ Keep some orthodontic wax handy in case wires get spooky 👻.
• 💥And remember: moderation keeps cavities and orthodontic setbacks away.

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👻 Don’t Let Candy Haunt Your Smile!

With just a little planning, you can enjoy Halloween treats without turning your orthodontic progress into a horror story. At Barnett Orthodontics, we’re here to help patients across Barberton, Akron, Norton, Wadsworth, Green, Copley, and nearby communities keep their smiles safe — and stylish.

If something goes wrong with your braces during Halloween festivities, or you just need a check-up, we’re ready to help!

📍 Barnett Orthodontics
86 Conservatory Dr. Ste. A
Barberton, OH 44203

📞 Call us: 330-745-4497
🌐 Visit us: www.barnettortho.com

When should your child come to the Orthodontist for the first time and why do they need to continue to be monitored?

Treatment Coordinator- Amy

One big myth I constantly hear is that kids do not need to see the orthodontist until all their baby teeth are gone, around age 12. 

Well, we are here to tell you that Dr. Barnett wants to see kids around age 7, no matter what! There is no cost to have an orthodontic consultation at our office and if no treatment is needed at age 7 (most likely the situation), your child will return annually for a complimentary check-up until they are ready for braces. 

When people don’t come in, or even come in at age 7 but do not return until all baby teeth are gone, sometimes the opportunity to correct certain problems is far too late.

Check out this example we saw last month, we had a child come in at age 11 and he was told that he didn’t need treatment immediately, but Dr. Barnett wanted to continue to monitor him every 6 months, he would likely start braces in at some point but it was too early at the time and observation checkups were recommended.

Fast-forward 8 years (we haven’t seen him since he was 11), and he shows up at 19 wanting to fix his smile. Dr. Barnett told him he could be treated but now needs surgery to bring in his impacted canine and remove a baby tooth. If they had continued to see us regularly, that situation could’ve been avoided.

2016- crowded but Dr. Barnett will continue to monitor every 6 months and consider intervention in the future

2024- Now the canine is stuck/impacted. Surgery is needed to remove the baby tooth and bring the tooth into the smile

At age 7, kids have a mixture of baby and adult teeth. Having an exam then, allows Dr. Barnett to identify potential problems with alignment, spacing, and the bite.

One of the advantages of visiting an orthodontist around age 7 is their ability to monitor and guide the development of the jaw and teeth. Orthodontic appliances, like expanders, can widen the jaw to create more space for teeth, which can help prevent overcrowding and other issues. 

Addressing these problems early can save money in the long run. Early intervention typically requires less extensive treatment compared to waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in. This can lead to shorter treatment times, fewer visits, and lower overall costs. Since certain orthodontic issues are easier to correct when detected early, problems like crossbites and open bites can often be fixed more efficiently before the jaw is fully developed. Waiting too long may require more complex treatments, including surgery.

So, scheduling a consultation with Dr. Barnett around age 7 will pave the way for early intervention if needed. The earlier you act, the better the outcome will be. Remember, our consultations are always complimentary, and you are never charged until your child begins treatment with us. Consider making the drive to Barberton, OH soon.  Whether you are in Akron, Copley, Wadsworth, Medina, Canal Fulton, Manchester, or Green, we look forward to meeting you and your family soon!

Give us a call: 330-745-4497