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

What's the point of these rubber bands? Do I really have to wear them all the time? What if I double up at night?

Many people who go through orthodontic treatment are required to wear elastics or rubber bands toward the end of their braces.  Elastics are used to help correct a patient's bite into an ideal position.  Whether you are in braces or Invisalign, the importance of elastics is essential. 

At our Akron orthodontic office, Dr. Barnett and Team work tirelessly on patient education to make this point about cooperation clear.  Without a patient doing the work, the end will never be in sight. 

There are different circumstances that could require the use of elastics; such as, an overbite, an underbite, or a crossbite.  Elastics are connected directly onto the brackets on a specialized hook designed to secure the rubber band in place.  They connect from top to bottom.  The pull of the rubber bands helps to move the teeth into the correct positions by stimulating the cells in the bone surrounding the teeth; therefore, the teeth then shift into the new correct position.  This is only successful when the elastics are worn full time, about 21-22 hours a day.  Part time cooperation will never make progress. As the bone begins the process of changing but when not worn consistently, it always has to “begin again.”  Thus no progress is made.

In today’s busy times, we find more and more people struggling with cooperation.  Whether it is forgetting after a meal to replace them, sports or activities that interfere, or just the "annoyance" of wearing rubber bands in general, some people just can't seem to commit.  Patients think that "doubling-up" on elastics will suffice; some will wear two elastics on each side at bed time and wear nothing during the day.  As brilliant as this seems, it does not work.  The teeth need constant light pressure in order to move.     

          Commonly we hear kids say they forget to put them in after lunch.  If you struggle with this, try setting an alarm/reminder on your cell phone to go off after lunch. Another idea is to keep a bag of elastics as a bookmark in your textbook for the first class after lunch. You can also try placing the rubber bands on a finger while snacking.

          If you really cannot commit to the cooperation, talk with your orthodontist about a non-compliant approach to bite correction.  We use a lot of “fixed” appliances to correct bites.  Ultimately though, each individual patient is in charge of his or her future.  Take some ownership to the process and achieve that awesome result!

---->CHECK OUT THIS FUNNY CLIP WE HAD ONE OF PATIENTS MAKE<---- br="">

 

What's the difference? Dentist vs. orthodontist?

Click here for an article posted on globalnews.com-see Dr. Barnett's Blog below:

We get questions a lot from patients about the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist.  Well, to put it simply, most dentists are not orthodontists but all orthodontists are dentists.  There are almost 200,000 dental graduates practicing some form of dentistry in the United States and only about 10,000 of them are orthodontists.  While dentists can do orthodontic work, they cannot call themselves "orthodontists" as they have not completed a 2-3 year residency beyond dental school. This specialized training teaches an orthodontist the art and science of tooth movement beyond what they learn in a basic 4-year dental school. 

While some dentists may perform adequate orthodontic work, there is no doubt that in the medical/dental world, specialized training is highly valued.  Dr. Barnett completed his residency at Boston Univeristy from 2003-2005.  He trained under world renowned orthodontists as he developed his skills before returning to the Akron, Ohio area to a limited practice of Orthodontics.  We treat both adults and children and are proud of our work and exceptional customer service. 

Unfortunately, the linked article shows an extreme example of someone who did not understand the person doing her braces was not an orthodontist and had a bad experience.  Make sure you do your research on the person potentially doing your orthodontic treatment. 

Akron Organization Donates $160,000 Annually for Braces...

Akron's Barnett Orthodontics is proud to partner with The Beacon Journal Charity Fund to provide braces to area families whom otherwise could not afford orthodontic treatment. 

Accepting a significantly reduced fee, Barnett Orthodontics (along with other area practitioners) provide the orthodontic treatment funded by the Charity Fund.  This partnership has allowed over 500 children in the past 10 years to get an amazing smile and healthy bite--thus increasing their self-esteem and self-worth by giving them a smile they can be proud of.   

The Beacon Journal Charity Fund was set up to make orthodontic services available to families with teens age 13 to 18 who reside in the five-county circulation area of the Akron Beacon Journal. These families don’t earn enough to pay for braces, but earn too much to be eligible for government aid. The fund fills the gap to provide orthodontics to a population which would otherwise have to go without. 

 Please let us know if you'd like more information on eligibility and or making donations to this great fund.

Distinguished Recognition: Invisalign 2010 Preferred Provider at Barnett Orthodontics

At Barnett Orthodontics, we are known for exceptional results. To achieve the ideal result, a certain level of expertise is necessary. One such product that demands a high level of expertise is Invisalign (invisible braces). Invisalign is a series of clear, removable aligners that are changed every two weeks to straighten your teeth without braces.

This year, Invisalign is honoring orthodontists who have completed a high number of cases with recognition, so the public can choose an orthodontist with proper training. According to Invisalign, "Invisalign Preferred Providers have the experience and training that you can rely on."

Barnett Orthodontics is one of only two orthodontists in the area with Preferred Provider Status. It's important to note, that general dentists can perform Invisalign, however they do not have 2-3 years of advanced training beyond dental school like an orthodontist.

Trust your smile to an orthodontist.

Trust your Invisalign, to a Preferred Invisalign Orthodontist Provider.

Candy Cane Contest Winner--$50.00 to Summit Mall

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Grant won our most recent contest. He guessed the correct number of candy canes in our jar--303!

Grant won $50.00 to spend on whatever he wants at Summit Mall.

Thanks for the 300 people who entered our contest.