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It’s almost that spooky time of year again and Laconia, NH orthodontist, Dr. Alan Kennell, and our team thought we’d share some Halloween tips from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists.

Trick-or-treating safety guidelines:

• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

To protect your braces, steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes with these ingredients:

• All hard candies
• All chewy candies
• Caramel
• Nuts
• Licorice
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Hard pretzels
• Bubblegum
• Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
• Ice

Of course, Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Braces-friendly Halloween treats can help you enjoy the “spook-ta-cular” holiday. For example, plain chocolate candy is okay, provided you remember to brush and floss afterwards. Bobbing for apples as well as caramel apples are not recommended. However, you can enjoy thinly sliced apples, dipped in yogurt or creamy chocolate sauce.

Dr. Kennell suggests looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Overall, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the entire team at Kennell Orthodontics!

Dr. Alan Kennell and his team will be hosting “Kennell Orthodontics' Movie Premiere." A patient appreciation "Red Carpet" Movie Premiere at Barnz Cinemas in Meredith, NH. If you are a current patient we encourage you to join us!

You and a Guest are formally invited to Kennell Orthodontic’s Movie Premiere of The Hunger Games-Catching Fire and Free Birds.

Saturday, November 23rd, 9:30 am
at Barnz Cinemas, Meredith, NH

Guest Arrivals Welcome at 8:45am
Movies will begin at 9:30am

Reservations Required. Seating is limited. To reserve your seat and movie choice, please stop by our office to pick up your ticket(s). Unfortunately, we are not accepting reservations over the phone, please stop by our office! Tickets are required for entry at the event.

For more details, check out the Movie Premiere Event on our Facebook page!

Our patient appreciation tubing event at Gunstock Mountain in January was such a success and great time, we would like to announce our next patient appreciation event!

Save the Date!!!

Dr. Alan Kennell and his team will be hosting “Kennell Orthodontics' Movie Premiere." A patient appreciation "Red Carpet" Movie Premiere at Barnz Cinemas in Meredith, NH. If you are a current patient we encourage you to join us!

For more details, check out the Movie Premiere Event on our Facebook page! And stay tuned for more information to come!!!

We love when patients ask us that question! Now that you’re wearing braces, it’s even more important to maintain a good oral hygiene regimen as you begin your orthodontic treatment.

Braces are known to trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or remove plaque, which is why our team at Kennell Orthodontics recommends that you brush and floss after every meal.

When your braces are initially placed, your teeth are likely to be very sensitive. You may experience discomfort for up to three to five days, which is why we encourage you to eat soft foods during that time. Remember, the less pressure you put on your teeth, the less discomfort you will have.

You may also be thinking, “Okay, so what can I eat?”

Here are a few soft foods that do not require you to do much chewing and are easy to chew on when your teeth are sore:

In the first couple of days, stick to liquid-based foods like yogurts, pudding and soups. Mashed potatoes are a good option as well. You can also cook fruits and vegetables to make them softer. Ice cream, cool soups, Jell-O, scrambled eggs, cream of wheat, oatmeal, baked potatoes, soft cooked pasta, soup, bananas, cottage cheese, smoothies, macaroni and cheese, pancakes, soft cheeses, and milk are all foods you can eat safely without having to worry about pain or breaking your brackets.

It’s crucial to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our office immediately to schedule an appointment for repair.

Lastly, in addition to visiting Kennell Orthodontics during your orthodontic treatment for adjustments, you should visit your dentist for professional checkups and teeth cleaning appointments about every six months, or as recommended by your dentist.

Here are some helpful tips for anyone with braces: