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 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. 

Getting Wiser about Wisdom Teeth

In the dental profession, there is a changing wave of thinking regarding the removal of wisdom teeth—and it’s making for some rough waters between the different disciplines of dentistry.  For years, oral surgeons and dentists have been prophylactically removing wisdom teeth under the assumption that if left intact, major problems will occur.  While it is true that wisdom teeth can cause major problems, it’s only in a small percentage of individuals that problems arise.  A recent article on Yahoo news highlighted a dentist who’s made it his mission to educate the public and the profession on the removal of wisdom teeth.  He published an article in the American Journal of Public Health, claiming two-thirds of the wisdom teeth removed each year were done for “no good reason”.  As well, the total cost for the extractions was in the billions!  Click here for a link to the article. 

The decision to extract wisdom teeth should be looked at closely by your dentist, oral surgeon and orthodontist.  The risks versus the rewards of extracting or keeping wisdom teeth need to be evaluated on an individual basis.  There are no absolutes.  The dental profession in Akron Ohio and the surrounding areas stays at the forefront when it comes to continuing education.  Know with confidence, your dental community is aware of the updates.

When it comes to orthodontic treatment, our practice has long been advising patients that the early removal of wisdom teeth does not prevent the other teeth from shifting later in life.  The teeth can shift with or without the wisdom teeth.  The most important variable to keeping your teeth straight after braces is wearing your retainer at night. 

Please call our office in Barberton, OH should you have any questions.  330-745-4497

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.

Extreme Couponing for Braces?

Have you seen the new hit TV show on TLC called Extreme Couponing? It's a documentary series where coupon-clippers 'nickel and dime' their way to outrageous savings, sometimes even FREE cartloads of groceries!

Just like most of you, I get those neighborhood "Value Coupon" packets in the mail with discounts to local carpet cleaners, restaurants, tanning studios, window washers. etc. Extreme couponing, here we come, right?

Not exactly. Usually I just throw the packets away but today I leafed through the coupons and was surprised to find an orthodontist advertising a very LOW 'fixed-fee' for braces. The fee was almost $1000 less than the average cost of orthodontic treatment in Akron Ohio. How could they afford to provide the highest quality of care and have such a low fee? Our office has always tried to keep fees as reasonable as possible. We know orthodontics is a significant expense for most families. It just didn't make sense that someone could "coupon" themselves down to such a low fee.

As one would expect, there was a catch.

The fixed fee for braces did not include the use of any appliances beyond the braces. Thus, there are hidden fees beyond the advertised price. It's kind of a "bait and switch" approach to get you in the door. Is it illegal? No. It's just misleading as you end of paying for expanders, retainers, etc bringing the cost of the treatment up to the local average.

At Barnett Orthodontics, there's no confusion about what the fee covers. There are no additional charges and no hidden fees. No "nickel and diming".

Come and see what people are talking about. We are proud to say, that what you see is what you get. Integrity. Quality care at an affordable cost. No coupon necessary.

Mouthguards...Football, Basketball and ROLLER DERBY!?!

Our first annual Mouthguard Day was a terrific success. We met a lot of new people, saw some of our old patients, and most importantly made affordable custom mouthguards to protect a lot of smiles.
While we had a lot of high school athletes come in for a mouthguard, some of the more interesting mouthguards we made were for two of the members of the Rubber City Rollergirls, an all female Roller Derby Team. While their roller derby names may be silly, "MC HamHer" and "Dead Eye HuntHer", the sport is very serious and growing in popularity.

If your not familiar with them, be sure to check them out though the link provided.

A big thank you to the entire Team at Barnett Orthodontics for an amazing job organizing and planning this event specifically Ruth and Robin.

The proceeds from the event will be donated to the Summa Dental Health Clinic.

Congrats Miss Ohio Teen USA-- Barnett Orthodontics Patient

Becoming Miss Ohio Teen USA takes more than a beautiful smile, but straight teeth are certainly an important part of the package!

We were excited to learn recently that our past patient, Bridget Linton was crowned Miss Teen Ohio 2010. Bridget is an amazing person both inside and out and has used her position this year to work with different organizations such as the American Heart Association, Girl Talk and D.A.R.E. She has visited Ohio schools to encourage children to become aware of their inner beauty and promote a positive self image.

Congratulations Bridget and keep up the amazing work as Miss Ohio Teen USA!

Follow bridget on Facebook or on her blog by clicking on the links.

Barnett Orthodontics provides braces and invisalign to adults and children in the Akron Ohio area and surrounding communities including Barberton, Norton, Manchester, Canal Fulton, Copley, Uniontown, Green, Wadsworth, North Canton, Portage Lakes, Doylestown, Coventry, and Fairlawn.

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.