Candy Alternatives for Kids with Braces

T-minus 2 days until Halloween! And what better time than now to remind our orthodontic patients which candies they should steer clear of. 

While candy in moderation won’t do too much damage, children with braces should always do their best to avoid hard, sticky sweets. So in honor of National Orthodontic Health Month, keep the below in mind:

Candies To Stay Away From
Broken bracket? Bent wires? Candy is the biggest culprit! Stay clear of an orthodontic emergency on Halloween by avoiding these sweets:

• Gummies
• Taffy
• Sugary bubblegum
• Hard candies
• Candied/Caramel apples

Alternative Halloween Snacks

Boonanas and Pumpkintines: Transform everyday fruits into spooky treats for your little ones. Make a ghost out of a banana by cutting it in half and adding chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth. Peel a clementine and use celery or cucumber pieces for the pumpkin stem!

Spiders on a log: Add a creepy crawly twist to a classic treat. Fill celery sticks with peanut butter and decorate with plastic spiders. Just make sure your kids remove the spiders before digging in!

Black apples: Instead of candied and caramel apples, cut some thin apple slices and allow your kids to dip in a creamy chocolate sauce for a sweet treat!

Jack o’ Lantern hummus plate: First you were carving pumpkins and now you’re making one! Grab red pepper hummus (for the orange color) and black beans to create the pumpkins face. Add whole wheat crackers and let your children dip and enjoy!

From all of us at Adelberg Montalvan - we hope your family has a fun and safe Halloween! And remember, there’s only a few days left to receive a complimentary consultation with our of our orthodontists in honor of National Orthodontic Health Month: Dr. Jenny is in our Nesconset location (631) 360-7337 and Dr. Jon in our Massapequa location (516) 798-1111!

#WellnessWednesday - Healthy Alternatives to Halloween Candy

 www.adelbergpediatricdental.com

 

Halloween is around the corner and while you may have already stocked up on candy to distribute this year perhaps you are still in the market for some other, healthy alternatives. See some of our recommendations below sure to make this year’s visitors leave not feeling tricked - but treated:

• Individually Wrapped Snacks - From Goldfish, to pretzel sticks, to crackers and cheese packs - there are an assortment of lunch box snacks that can double as Halloween handouts! Granola bars, trail mix, pudding cups - whichever you decide just be sure to choose foods that are individual wrapped.
• Coloring Page and Crayons - Purchase a Halloween coloring book and a box of crayons. Tear out the pages of the book and package each page with two crayons by folding around the paper and adding a ribbon to secure!
• Dollar Store Trinkets - Plastic spider rings, glow sticks, temporary tattoos, plastic vampire teeth, spooky stickers - the list is endless. Round up a bunch for trick or treaters to choose from!
• Boxed Juices or Water - Mini bottles of water and natural juice boxes can always be appreciated. Consider how thirsty kids can get while running around trick or treating, these are sure to be a welcomed treat.

Have any healthy alternatives you hand out each year? Share with us on our Facebook page!

Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dentistry has three Long Island locations. We specialize in caring for children’s teeth in a comfortable and caring environment. Call (516) 798-1111 or visit our website to schedule an appointment.