Unmask a Safe Halloween for Yourself, Your Teeth . . . and Your Braces

CHULA VISTA, Calif. - Oct. 15, 2014 - PRLog -- Halloween can be a scary time for teeth.  Along with the American Association of Orthodontists, Chula Vista orthodontist Dr. Elaine Sunga offers these tips to keep your teeth safe from decay and protect your braces during the Halloween season:

-          Brushing and flossing are more important than ever during the Halloween season, when teeth may receive more exposure to sweets that can cause cavities.  People with braces should be especially conscientious about brushing and flossing after consuming sugary or starchy foods.

-          If you consume sweets, do so in moderation.  Avoid temptation to grab another handful from the bowl filled with treats.  Parents may want to limit the time during which children can eat from the Halloween candy bowl, whether they have braces or not.

-          Avoid sticky situations with your braces.  Stay away from hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy candy and snacks.  These include caramel, licorice, taffy, bubblegum, and jelly beans.  Also steer away from nuts, taco chips, and popcorn (especially unpopped kernels).  “If it’s sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy, it’s a food that anyone wearing braces or retainers should avoid,” said Dr. Sunga.  “Eating the wrong kinds of foods can bend and break braces, which might cause treatment to last longer than planned.”

Good alternatives for people with braces include soft chocolates, peanut butter cups or other melt in your mouth varieties.  The AAO offers braces-friendly recipes for Halloween on its Web site, www.braces.org.

“Eating candy may increase the risk of tooth decay for people in general and certainly for orthodontic patients,” Dr. Sunga noted.

Dr. Sunga also offers these safety tips for those who will be trick-or-treating on Halloween:

-          Be careful of cars, especially when crossing the street.  Be sure to look both ways and to use crosswalks when available.

-          Wear a light colored or reflective costume.

-          Have an adult accompany you.

-          Carry a flashlight

-          Before eating your candy, have an adult inspect it.

October is National Orthodontic Health Month and is celebrated by orthodontists’ throughout the U.S. and Canada.  Orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.  Only those with this education may call themselves “orthodontists” and only orthodontists may be members of the AAO http://braces.org/.  For more tips and information, you can contact Dr. Sunga at her office in Eastlake at (619) 591-5950 or online at http://sungaortho.com/