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Step 1
Skip anything that is tough to chew. Use your good judgment. Any candy bars or sweets which contain nuts are no-nos. Anything that requires a bit more gnawing, even for those with perfect teeth, should not be an option. This includes any sweets containing caramel, popcorn or anything with a rubbery consistency. Taffy, licorice and jelly beans should all be avoided.
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Step 2
Read ingredients very carefully. When it doubt, skip it. That cheap bag of candy can quickly turn into thousands of dollars in visits to the orthodontist.
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Step 3
Opt for goodies with a soft, mushy consistency. Peanut butter cups are acceptable as long as the nuts in the peanut butter are crushed very small. Candy bars aren't completely off-limits. As long as the treat doesn't contain nuts or caramel (think of bars like Mars), it will be fine. And marshmallows are great options, which now come in all sorts of flavors, colors and sizes.
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Step 4
Think drink. Orange (in honor of the pumpkin) smoothies and chocolate milkshakes are a great option for parties. You can buy many smoothie mixes at the store. These require few ingredients and little preparation time. These will satisfy a sweet tooth just like traditional candy bars, but you'll be able to avoid the side effects of possibly damaging orthodontia.
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Step 5
Improvise. Instead of candy apples (the horror of all dental horrors), remove the skin from an apple and slice it very fine. Select a sweet fruit dip or chocolate sauce. Use that for dipping instead of ultra-sticky caramel.
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Step 6
Bake. Don't rely on the big supermarket bags of candies when your child has braces. There are a lot of great treats available. Your child need not feel that he is missing out. Make some soft cupcakes or cakes with sweet orange frosting.
