We all know the best part about Halloween is that sugary bounty. It’s a bit different if you are a braces wearer, though. So what Halloween candy can you eat with braces?
Plenty of Halloween braces-friendly candy is available, but there is also candy you shouldn’t eat. That candy can damage your braces. Zombek Orthodontics wants you to enjoy the holiday and the “safe” types of candy.
Some Halloween sweets are more trick than treat. Sticky, hard, or crunchy food and candy can get stuck in your braces and damage the brackets and wires.
Here are some of the Halloween treats to avoid eating with braces.
Do you like Reese’s Cups or M&Ms? Skittles or KitKats? What candy can you eat with braces?
Here’s a list of some of the best Halloween candies that won’t result in an orthodontic emergency for you or your kiddo.
These are just a few delicious candies you can eat with braces!
Do you want to know if a specific candy is good for your braces? Here’s a guide to some of the most popular treats for Halloween.
Unfortunately, you should avoid eating gummies with braces, as well as gummy bears and gummy worms. Save those for when you get your braces off!
You can have some chocolate with braces! Check out the list above for which ones are good and which ones to avoid!
Yes, just brush your teeth well so the marshmallows don’t stick to your brackets.
Unfortunately, you should not eat Skittles with braces. The hard shell and chewy inside are a recipe for a braces disaster.
While Sour Patch Kids may seem less gummy than most chewy candies, they can still cause damage and should be avoided during orthodontic treatment.
Airheads will definitely hurt your braces’ brackets and wires. On a chewiness scale from 1-10, they’re a solid 10.
Good news! There are somewhere between 11 and 61 flavors of M&Ms now! While you need to be careful of add-ins like nuts, pretzels, and caramel, plain M&Ms and soft (not sticky!) options like peanut butter are braces-safe. You want the chocolate that melts in your mouth!
Between the gooey caramel and crunchy cookie, this is a bad one for your braces.
Sticky and hard candies like Jolly Ranchers will cause bracket or wire damage to your braces.
Yes! Break off a piece of that KitKat and enjoy those chocolate-covered wafers!
Starbursts are a no-go with braces. They’re hard and chewy and will definitely hurt your wires and brackets.
Wait to eat these till after your orthodontic treatment, sadly.
We want you to enjoy Halloween, but we also want you to have healthy teeth! Here are a few tips for enjoying Halloween candy with braces without sacrificing your oral health.
Even with prevention, braces accidents happen. Contact Zombek Orthodontics if you notice a loose wire or bracket or if you break a wire or pop a bracket. We will get you in for repairs!
If you end up with a bunch of candy you can’t eat, bring it to Zombek Orthodontics! Every year, Zombek Orthodontics offers a Candy Buyback in the first week of November to all our patients. Trade any unsafe candy for cash and join us in supporting a great cause — Kakes 4 Kids!
The non-profit organization, Kakes 4 Kids, celebrates the birthdays of over 300 foster and underprivileged children in South Florida. They organize personalized birthday celebrations for every child!
Happy Halloween from Zombek Orthodontics!
Teeth! We all use them, but most don’t know much about them. Why do we have so many teeth?
Why do we get baby teeth first instead of adult teeth right away? How do human teeth stack up against other animal teeth?
Learning about teeth anatomy helps us understand how teeth help animals (and people) stay safe and strong. It can also help us appreciate why keeping our teeth straight and healthy is essential.
While your teeth are similar to your bones, they are different.
Bones have a thick outer layer with a soft inner layer called marrow. Teeth also have an outer shell with a soft interior but not marrow. Teeth consist of three main layers: enamel, dentin, and pulp.
The tooth enamel is the hard outer shell that protects your tooth. The dentin is the part of the tooth that protects the pulp and gives your enamel a good foundation. The pulp is the living tissue where you’ll find nerves and blood vessels of the tooth.
That means your teeth are living, and you must practice good oral hygiene to keep them healthy. Tooth decay, gum disease, and infection can weaken and eventually kill a tooth. That’s why at Zombek Orthodontics, we talk with you about the importance of brushing and flossing regularly!
Humans have four main types of teeth: Incisors, Canines, Premolars (bicuspid teeth), and Molars. Let’s look at the differences.
Your lateral and central incisors are the teeth located at the front of your mouth. You have four on top and four on the bottom. The incisors bite and chop food, like when you bite into an apple or corn on the cob.
The long, pointy teeth on either side of your incisors are the canines. Humans have four canines — two on top and two on the bottom. Canine teeth tear food, including meat.
We get premolars for the first time when we get our permanent teeth (babies don’t have premolars.) We have eight premolar teeth as adults.
There are two premolars located on each side, on top and bottom. The premolars sit behind the canines and help grind the food pulled apart by the canines and incisors.
The molar teeth are your big back teeth. They grind your food until it’s broken down enough to swallow. How many molars do you have?
Most adults have 12 permanent molars, three on each side, top and bottom, if they have all their wisdom teeth.
Wisdom teeth are the common name for the third molars that come in once we reach adulthood. Most people have four wisdom teeth, but not all! The Dental Research Journal reports that up to 37% of the population is missing wisdom teeth! Do you have all of yours?
It’s OK if you don’t have all of your wisdom teeth. The molars you do have are 100% up to the task.
You may think all teeth look and work alike in animals, but that’s not true! Carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores have very different teeth. Why? It’s all about diet!
Carnivores, like wolves, otters, tigers, and bears, eat only meat. They have sharp teeth throughout their mouths. Usually, meat eaters have lots of space between their teeth to keep debris from getting trapped there. Raw meat contains many dangerous bacteria that could quickly rot their teeth, a serious threat to survival in the wild.
Each type of tooth helps the carnivore in a unique and important way. Carnivores’ front teeth, their incisors, are pointed to help them catch and tear into their prey.
Carnivores’ large canine teeth help them fight their prey and each other and tear and shred meat from bones.
A carnivore’s molars are like knives, chopping their food into pieces small enough to swallow. Because carnivores have extremely acidic stomachs, they can quickly swallow large chunks of protein without bothering to chew.
Most of us expect that the big difference between carnivores’ teeth and omnivore teeth will be their canines. After all, why would animals like giraffes, hippos, and rabbits, which eat only plants, need teeth that tear meat?
Turns out many herbivores have canines. They have canines on the bottom, while carnivores usually have them on the top, too. It turns out that herbivores need a few sharp teeth.
While most herbivores need some sharp teeth, they don’t need the pointy front teeth (called incisors) that carnivores do. Instead, their incisors are chisel-shaped, which helps herbivores gnaw through hard seeds, woody plant stems, and tough grasses.
Many herbivores have a large space between their incisors and the rest of their teeth, called a diastema. Herbivores use this space as a sorting area. Their tongues find the inedible or thorny pieces and spit them back out, which protects the rest of the mouth.
Herbivores also use this space to reposition their food over and over again while they chew. Herbivores use their broad, flat molars to crush and grind their food into a paste. This allows for easy swallowing and digesting in the stomach and intestines.
Omnivores have a mixed diet. They eat both meat and plants. They need versatile teeth to take advantage of all kinds of food sources.
Omnivores’ incisors are sharp at the tip but wide, not pointy like carnivores’. This wide, sharp edge lets omnivores slice off chunks of meat, and it cuts plant material like a knife.
Omnivores’ molars can multi-task too. They’re wide like an herbivore’s molars so that they can grind up food. But unlike herbivores’ molars, their surface has multiple sharp points. Grinding and chopping help omnivores crush their food relatively quickly.
Quick eating is important for any predator, but unlike carnivores, omnivores can’t effectively digest meat unless it’s well-chewed.
Like herbivores and carnivores, many omnivores have long, sharp canines. These help omnivores catch prey, compete for dominance, and defend themselves, their territory, and their young against predators.
Humans make many different choices about what we do and don’t eat. Our teeth make it possible for us to eat an omnivore’s diet or any diet.
The short answer to this question is that we grow! Babies’ small heads make birth possible, but by age 1, our heads are already about 87% of their adult size. Baby teeth, also called primary teeth, deciduous teeth, and milk teeth, help us develop as we grow.
Baby teeth start appearing around six months of age. They help us develop important skills like speaking and eating while our heads and jaws grow.
How many teeth do kids have? 20! They have eight incisors, four canines, and eight molars.
Permanent teeth replace those and add eight premolars and four wisdom teeth. A total of 32 permanent teeth!
Permanent teeth are developing in our jaws even as our baby teeth are first erupting from our gums. Eventually, children need bigger teeth to eat properly, so baby teeth fall out.
Do baby teeth have roots? Yes, they do. But those roots dissolve, allowing the baby tooth to fall out and the permanent tooth to take its place.
By the time we’re teenagers, most permanent teeth are in, except for a few back molars. Wisdom teeth come in between ages 17 and 24, if at all.
Adult teeth should last a lifetime. But it’s natural for teeth to wear down, shift, or discolor slightly over time. Healthy teeth are essential to the survival of lions and squirrels, and they’re necessary for you, too! Throughout your life, your adult teeth help you to chew properly and speak clearly.
Your teeth wear down more quickly with misaligned teeth. A bad bite also increases your chances of gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. Orthodontic treatment realigns your teeth, making them easier to clean and more likely to last for the rest of your life.
Zombek Orthodontics is here to help you keep your smile healthy and strong for a lifetime. We offer braces treatment and Invisalign clear aligners to straighten your teeth.
Start with a virtual consult or schedule an appointment in the Weston, FL, or Hollywood, FL, areas. See how we can keep your smile beautiful and your teeth healthy!
When you swallow, does the tip of your tongue remain touching your palate (the roof of your mouth), or does it push against the back of your upper teeth? If it touches your teeth, you might have a habit called tongue thrust.
Tongue thrust can cause an overbite or open bite, where your top and bottom teeth don’t touch even when your mouth is closed. Over time, the repeated pressure from your tongue against the back of your teeth pushes your teeth forward.
Sometimes, you can break the habit with myofunctional therapy and tongue exercises that retrain the tongue to chew, swallow, and speak differently.
For those who can’t break the habit themselves, Zombek Orthodontics can help with a tongue crib. This device can stop the tongue-thrusting habit and save your smile! Orthodontic treatment, such as braces or Invisalign, will repair any bite issues from tongue thrust.
What is a tongue thrust? Tongue thrust is habitually moving your tongue forward during speech or swallowing. The tongue may also sit against the teeth at rest.
Tongue thrust usually begins with infants and can be made worse by pacifier use or thumbsucking. It is classified as an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD).
While tongue thrust starts in childhood, it can still happen into adulthood. Signs of tongue thrust in adults include:
Why is it so important to stop tongue thrust? Eventually, the pressure of your tongue will move your upper teeth forward, creating an overjet, where the upper teeth are angled outward, or an overbite, a gap between the upper and lower teeth.
There are two main types of tongue thrust treatment — therapy and a tongue thrust appliance. Tongue thrust therapy involves a series of exercises that teach your tongue to move correctly and sit back from your teeth.
The team at Zombek Orthodontics will teach you several exercises to do at home to get rid of your tongue thrust. You can do these exercises several times a day. Eventually, your tongue learns to sit in its proper place and move better when you speak or eat.
If therapy doesn’t fix the tongue thrust reflex, we have appliances that can interrupt your tongue thrust so that you break the habit. One of these appliances is a tongue crib.
A tongue crib is a device made up of two brands that slide over your molars and a wire that arcs over the roof of your mouth (your palate). That wire holds one of several types of “cribs” in the front.
There are different types of tongue cribs.
Removable tongue cribs do exist, but they aren’t effective. Training the tongue to move differently when speaking, chewing, and swallowing requires constant reinforcement. Bonded tongue cribs provide feedback around the clock, even when you’re sleeping, reducing treatment time and creating lasting change.
Treatment time with a tongue thrust appliance will depend on the patient. How severe is your tongue-thrusting habit? Is there a thumbsucking habit as well?
The average treatment time with a tongue thrust appliance is 6-12 months. Dr. Zombek will be able to evaluate your tongue-thrust habit and determine how long you’ll need to wear a tongue crib.
We don’t just use tongue cribs for tongue thrusts. They’re also very effective in stopping a thumb-sucking habit. Thumbsucking should stop by the age of 2, as should pacifier use. The longer these continue, the more damage they can do.
A tongue crib makes it nearly impossible for the child to insert their thumb and suck on it. Trying to rest it on the tongue crib can be painful to the thumb.
Thumbsucking can encourage tongue thrust. It can damage the palate and upper and lower teeth, causing an overbite, underbite, or open bite. Thumbsucking presses the palate into the space for the nasal passages, which can cause breathing issues.
The longer your child sucks their thumb, the worse these dental and other health issues become. That’s why it’s vital to stop thumbsucking as soon as possible.
If your child is nearing kindergarten and still sucking their thumb, contact Zombek Orthodontics. We will evaluate your child and decide which tongue-thrust device would work best. We can also discuss orthodontic treatment for kids to repair the damage this habit may have caused.
Tongue thrust and thumbsucking are damaging habits to teeth, jaws, and even the nasal passages. These two habits are common in small children, but you need to break these habits as soon as possible. If a child can’t do it on their own or with therapy, then tongue-thrust appliances may be the way to go. A child may be ready for a tongue crib to stop their habit by seven years old.
Zombek Orthodontics can treat your child’s tongue thrusting or thumbsucking. Your first step is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Zombek. He will evaluate your child’s case and provide the best solution for your child.
Dr. Zombek can recommend therapy to help you at any age and the best braces or Invisalign treatment to repair teeth damaged by these habits.
Breaking bad habits is vital to our oral health. Contact Zombek Orthodontics if you think you or your child may need tongue thrust therapy or a tongue crib. We are here to help!
Our patients love treatment with Invisalign clear aligners because they’re nearly invisible. But what happens when it’s time for the Invisalign to come off and the retainers to go on? Most people think of retainers as those acrylic and wire contraptions. Some of today’s retainers are more advanced and have the same look and feel as Invisalign clear aligners! The Essix retainer is made in the style of clear aligners, but Invisalign has its own clear retainer — Vivera.
Which one is better, Essix or Vivera? What do these clear retainers do, and why do you need them? Zombek Orthodontics is a Platinum Invisalign provider, so we have plenty of experience with Invisalign and its Vivera retainers. Are Invisalign’s retainers better than Essix retainers? Let’s weigh the pros and cons.
When it comes down to Invisalign vs. retainers, you may be wondering why you even need a retainer. Why not just wear your last Invisalign tray? Invisalign aligners are designed to move and straighten your teeth. Vivera retainers are made to hold your teeth in place.
You need retainers because your teeth have been made to move for months, and it takes a while for them to stop moving and stay in place. The retainers may look like your Invisalign trays, but where the Invisalign trays are made to move your teeth, retainers are made to keep them still and don’t apply pressure on your teeth.
By wearing your retainers properly, you can make that beautiful new smile of yours last for a lifetime!
Traditional retainers, often called Hawley retainers, are made of acrylic that’s molded to the shape of the roof of your mouth. Wires attached to the acrylic slide over your teeth and hold them in place. The wires are very visible, which is why many of our patients prefer the Vivera or Essix retainers.
Vivera and Essix retainers are custom-molded to your teeth to fit them snugly and hold them in place. The removable retainers slide onto your teeth and hold them still while the bone in your jaw hardens around them. Once your jaw “sets,” your teeth won’t move as much, which is why we usually reduce the amount of time you wear your retainers from 22 hours a day to overnight after about 6-12 months.
The advantage of Vivera and Essix retainers is that they are clear and molded to fit your teeth, so they’re nearly invisible. Our patients don’t feel as self-conscious wearing their Vivera retainers, and they can show off their new smile while preserving it.
Which is better, Vivera or Essix retainers? They look very similar, so what is the difference between Vivera and Essix retainers? Both are designed to keep your smile the same for the rest of your life, and both Vivera and Essix retainers are removable. However, there are a few differences.
The biggest difference is the material. Vivera retainers are made from the same durable SmartTrack material as Invisalign clear aligners. That makes them just as strong as Invisalign. Essix retainers are made from a 30% thinner material. This means you have a better chance of Essix retainers bending, warping, or breaking.
Essix retainers may be less expensive, but the thinner material often means patients have to replace them more often. That doesn’t save money in the long run. Also, Vivera offers two sets of retainers initially, not just one. That means you have a backup in case you lose your retainers.
As an Invisalign Platinum Provider, Zombek Orthodontics is familiar with SmartTrack material, so you can expect Vivera retainers that fit you comfortably and that will last for years.
We believe strongly that you’ll find Vivera retainers to be stronger, more comfortable, and longer lasting than other retainers. Schedule an appointment with us to see for yourself!
With proper care, your retainers can last for years. It will take some diligence on your part to keep them safe and clear.
When you first get your retainers, you’ll need to wear them most of the time — at least 22 hours a day. You’ll remove them for eating, drinking dark liquids (clear water is OK), and brushing and flossing. Make sure you put them into a protective storage case when they are not in your mouth. Store your case somewhere safe. As with Invisalign, your retainers can be damaged by small children or pets, so keep them out of reach of both. Also, never wrap your retainers in a napkin. It’s far too easy to throw them away!
The key to making your retainers last is to clean them well. Rinse your retainers every time you remove and replace them. Clean your retainers by soaking them in lukewarm water with retainer cleaner tablets. We don’t recommend using toothpaste because abrasive material in the toothpaste can leave microabrasions on your retainers and give them a cloudy appearance.
Make sure your retainers aren’t left in areas that are too hot, such as a hot car or in very hot water. Don’t put them in a dishwasher. Excessive heat can warp your retainers, damaging them. This is why we encourage you to use your storage case.
Why is this so important? Because after several months without tooth movement, we usually allow you to reduce your wear time from 22 hours a day to 8 hours a day. Most patients sleep in their retainers, so they don’t have to wear them during the day. When the retainers aren’t in your mouth, they need to be stored safely so they last for years. Good storage habits early will carry you throughout your life and will carry your retainers, as well.
Vivera retainers and Essix retainers are very similar, but Vivera retainers offer you thicker material, better comfort, and more durability thanks to the same SmartTrack material you find in Invisalign clear aligners. If you’re ready to see what Invisalign treatment and Vivera can do for you, start with a virtual consult if you’re in the Hollywood, FL, or Weston, FL, areas. We’ll bring you in for a full consultation and show you how Invisalign and Vivera can create the smile of your dreams!
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