BRACES –SAFE HALLOWEEN TREATS

Smart snacking tips for adults and children with braces)
By the American Association of Orthodontists

What can I have that’s fun to eat for Halloween?
Orthodontists say it’s the perennial question from adults and children wearing braces.

Those who wear braces should avoid the following foods, whether consumed on their own or as recipe ingredients.

• Nuts
• Popcorn
• Tortilla chips
• Hard candy
• Jellybeans
• Licorice
• Taffy
• Caramel and other chewy candies

However, especially because October is National Orthodontic Health Month, orthodontists want to help their patients enjoy the season.

“A little awareness and creativity in the kitchen can produce big smiles from trick-or-treaters with braces.”

Ask Drs. Bernard & Eimer: What Can I Eat When My Teeth Are Sore?

Here are some soft food suggestions for patients to consider:

• Yogurt
• Soft cheeses, such as brie, cottage cheese, and sliced swiss, cheddar, and havarti
• Instant breakfast drinks
• Custard
• Pudding
• Pasta-fully cooked and soft
• Noodles
• soup
• Rice or risotto
• Bulgur wheat
• Polenta
• Grits
• Soft cooked carrots
• Baked fish
• Tofu
• Mashed potatoes
• Hummus
• Mashed bananas
• Milkshakes or smoothies
• Jell-o
• Pudding
• Scrambled eggs
• Oatmeal or cream of wheat

**Remember- Nothing HOT with new “Heat activated” wires and Advil works well for tender teeth.

Are those rumors about swallowing bubble gum true?

Drs. Bernard & Eimer know the rumors going around – mostly among young people – that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing! From Drs. Bernard & Eimer and team.

BOO! Braces-Friendly Halloween Recipes!

With October just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about some frighteningly-good Halloween recipes. Our staff at Bernard and Eimer Orthodontics came across some GHOULISH Halloween recipes this week, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontists. In general, orthodontic patients should look for foods that are soft and easy to chew. These three recipes fit the bill:

*Spider Bites
*Frightful Finger Cookies
*Black-Cherry Fruit-Bats
and Citrus Orange Pumpkin Fruity Cutouts

Other treats you may want to try this include:

*Soft, melt-in-your-mouth chocolates
*Peanut butter cups
*Milk shakes
*Gelatin
*Peeled, thinly sliced apples
*Ice cream

Have a terrific weekend!