Braces and Candy: Orthodontists Find a Way to Beat Halloween Blues

For many years orthodontists have been wary of kids undergoing orthodontia and indulging in heavy intake of candy in Halloween holidays. After that they are found up with broken braces and need a quick fix to get the desired results to orthodontic treatment. Kids in such fun seasons pay less attention to orthodontist\'s warning of strict avoidance of hard, sticky and sugary food-items.

Members of AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) have started a unique measure to beat their Halloween blues. They have kicked off a buyback program for Halloween candies. The program consists of hundreds of dentists and orthodontists from all over the country. Under this program the kids could exchange hard and sticky treats they receive during fun time with non candy gifts like gift vouchers, movie tickets and cash. The initiative attracts 5 million American orthodontic patients to get appealing gifts in exchange for candy. Candy and braces are orthodontic nightmares. The AAO anticipated a buy back nearly of 16 tons of candy.

Halloween time comes with scary results for orthodontists. They have to fix additional appointments to fix broken braces or brackets, loose wires and other similar problems with people wearing braces after having candy treats that are hard and chewy, popular during this holiday season.

The brilliant buyback program was a result of the effort by American Association of Orthodontists to allow kids have fun in Halloween holidays with braces friendly treats instead of sticky and chewy candy that are bete noire to orthodontists.

The effort was a part of its annual awareness program run during Halloween holiday season. This year too, the members of AAO started this awareness program for adult Americans as well as kids to consume braces friendly food-items and to strictly avoid food-items harmful for braces specially for kids since they are more susceptible to caramel candy, licorice, taffy, nuts, bubble gums, jelly beans, hard pretzels, taco chips, pop corn, caramel apples etc., that fall in the list of food-items that orthodontists hate. Anything that is hard, sticky, chewy or crunchy has to be avoided s o that braces do not break or fall out.

For candy addicts who would go for it at any cost without paying attention to orthodontist\'s repeated instructions, orthodontists kept a safer alternative. They advocated softer candy that melts in the mouth similar to peanut beater cups and other soft and sticky chocolates. Other sweet alternatives were slices of apples or strawberries, dipped in chocolate sauce that would allow happy Halloween without harming the braces, their delicate wires and brackets.

So, as you see, braces and candy: orthodontists find a way to beat Halloween blues.