Let’s Make Halloween Treats Less Tricky!

posted: Oct. 28, 2025.

If the scariest part of Halloween in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts is trying to figure out which treats are braces-friendly and which treats are braces-frightful, we have a fiendishly simple suggestion to help keep your brackets and wires safe from harm: ghost any treats which are chewy, crunchy, hard, or sticky!

It’s no mystery how certain candies and treats can cause trouble for your braces. The pulling effect of chewy candies like caramels can pull a bracket right off your tooth. Biting into a hard candy can break a wire. Crunchy treats can get stuck under wires and damage braces. Sticky foods pull on your wires and brackets.

Broken braces are no fun. Loose or detached brackets can be uncomfortable. Bent or broken wires can cause sores and cuts inside your mouth. Damaged braces mean extra trips to the orthodontist for repairs, and can even delay your treatment if the damage is significant or you can’t see your orthodontist right away.

And chewy, crunchy, hard, and sticky treats have a haunting effect on your dental health as well. These foods stick to brackets and wires and can be difficult to brush or floss away. Cavity-causing bacteria feast on the sugars and food particles left behind, putting you at greater risk for cavities.

So, what specific treats should *vanish* from your candy collection this Halloween? Here are some of the most damaging to braces:

Chewy caramels, taffy, fruit chews, gum, and licorice
Crunchy candied apples, caramel popcorn, peanut brittle, nuts, and popcorn balls
Hard and hard-shelled candies, lollipops (especially with gum centers), and jawbreakers
Sticky gummies, jellybeans, and candy corn

But it’s not all frightful news! There are many spook-tacularly good treats which you can enjoy without putting your braces in jeopardy:

Peanut butter cups
Soft chocolate bars (with no nuts or caramel hiding inside!)
Soft cupcakes
Pudding cups
Mint patties
Ice cream
Sugar-free gum (if it’s okay with the doctor and your orthodontist)

And here are a few good tricks for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, whether or not you wear braces:

Brush and floss after treats.
Enjoy sweets in moderation.
Skip the sour candies. Acidic foods can damage tooth enamel.
Eat treats with a meal. Eating increases saliva production, which helps neutralize acids and wash away food particles.

Don’t let a damaged bracket or wire spoil your Halloween fun. Talk to the team at Jeff Harrison to learn which candies are a treat for both you and your braces and you’ll stay on the fast track to a boo-tiful, healthy smile!

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"This office at Washington Street in Wellesley is incredibly well run. Everybody is friendly and very professional.

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When people say "I hate to go to the dentist" I always respond "I don't!""

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During the next few weeks, so many people in my life noticed how much younger I look. My forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet are gone.
I highly recommend Dr. Inna for all dental and cosmetic procedures."

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Donna Santamaria
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*Parking is also a plus*
I started seeing Dr.Burnett for Botox that started out cosmetically. Dr.Burnett made the experience very pleasant from my first time and has stayed that way till now! Dr.Burnett had suggested that I try the Botox for my clenching and it has HELPED tremendously. I’m very thankful for her ability to make me feel beautiful and confident in her care."

Ester Kuritnik
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Caraline Zeizel
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Carole Anne Parisi
"Beyond grateful and impressed. After a different dentist made some mistakes on a chipped filling and tore up the side of my mouth doing so, I was beside myself. Metro West got me in so quickly despite being booked. Dr. Burnett was beyond wonderful. She’s so kind and tried so hard to make everything painless. Tina was also wonderful to chat with and so on top of everything. The office was totally secure and COVID-19 safe with many precautions. I’m getting ready to move out of the area, but would recommend this office and Dr. Burnett to anyone. Top notch."

Leah Salloway