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FIVE SMART TIPS For Creating Braces-Friendly Baskets and Treats

“Easter is always a special time of year. It’s a holiday that all Article by Dustin S. Burleson, DDS ages enjoy together. But for those with braces, these five tips can save you time and money repairing broken braces after you dig into your .”

that steering clear of those treats is Chocolate not difficult, and your child will still Most kids are going to want some end up with a really great Easter chocolate in their Easter basket. Heck, basket! most adults want some, too! Be sure to avoid any chocolates that are hard or Tasty Treats may be filled with things like chewy caramel. Opt for those chocolates that There are some treats that are off- are soft and will melt in the mouth. limits when it comes to wearing There are usually small balls of braces, and you will want to avoid chocolate available every Easter. Other those for sure. When you put the options include Hershey kisses and treats into the Easter basket just peanut butter cups. Another tip to Easter is always a special time of year. think for a moment if they are foods keep in mind about selecting It’s a holiday that all ages enjoy that are particularly hard or sticky. chocolate is that dark chocolate is a together. One thing that is symbolic This means you will want to bypass healthier option. Dark chocolate, with Easter is the eye-appealing the jelly beans, which may be a which comes in many varieties, baskets that are usually chock-full of tradition in the baskets, but can cause contains riboflavin and antioxidants sweets, treats, and goodies galore. But problems with braces. Sticky or that provide health benefits for the for the person who has braces, there chewy foods can be especially teeth and gums. are some treats that should be left out difficult for people who have braces. of the Easter basket. Some of the Fruit treats you put into the baskets can When it comes to choosing what will Most kids love fruit, so putting some lead to discomfort, or even a trip to go in the basket, here are a few safe in their Easter basket should be a the orthodontist. The good news is options to consider: great treat. Think about those fruits JOURNAL OF SPECTACULAR SMILES 15

Easter Basket Ideas for Youngsters

Jump ropes Sidewalk chalk Bubbles Rainbow loom bands Puzzles Coloring books Crayons Glitter pens Scented markers Finger paints Books Small stuffed animals Small balls Stickers Legos Seeds to plant fruits, veggies, or a that are soft and will make an ideal Cookies flower addition to the basket, such as Pop a few iced sugar cookies into that bananas, strawberries, or blueberries. basket and your kids will love you Movie or CD All of these are soft, easy to eat when even more. Whether you make them at you have braces, and they are healthy. home yourself or you buy some from In addition to containing vitamins, the store, this will be a tasty treat that strawberries are also an astringent and won’t be a pain. Left: whole grain peanut butter treats with act as a natural tooth whitener. banana and sprigs of mint Brownies Marshmallows No kids can resist brownies. While marshmallows can be a little You can find some in a store sticky, they are also soft and shouldn’t or bakery that are decorated be a problem because they dissolve in for Easter, or you can make water. Putting a few of the traditional them yourself. If you make marshmallow Peeps in the Easter them yourself consider basket is fine for your kids, but it getting creative with making would be wise to have them brush them healthier. There are their teeth after eating them. plenty of recipes online for Hard-boiled eggs turning ordinary brownies Because this traditional is into ones made with black so soft, it should not pose a problem beans. While they may for those with braces. Decorated hard- sound odd, they have boiled eggs will make a nice addition become popular and the to any basket. kids seem to like them, too.

Right: decorated iced-sugar cookies for Easter JOURNAL OF SPECTACULAR SMILES 16

Homemade jellies Creating Your Own Baskets You can easily make some jelly candies that are brace friendly. There are recipes online, such as As a parent, you may find that making your own the one on BracesFriendlyRecipes.com that will baskets is fun, especially if you tend to have a demonstrate how to do it. Just opt for Easter creative streak like so many do. Just one look at colors for your homemade jellies and it will be a all the Pinterest Easter basket ideas that are festive treat that causes no harm. pinned and you will find some ideas to get you Other foods started. Whether you go with those ideas to There are a lot of foods that you can add to your create your own baskets or you come up with child’s Easter basket, keeping their age in mind some all on your own, there are no limits. Have of course. Think of things like bottled fun with it and make it a memorable experience. smoothies, pudding cups, and grapes. There are Another thing to keep in mind is that you don’t snack packs of crackers, chips, and graham have to stick to baskets. They are certainly nice, crackers. You can even find a few varieties of soft but there are other creative options you can use cereal bars, such as those by Kashi, Udi’s, or as well. Some people have one basket that they Nutri-Grain that are perfectly braces-safe. use each year for Easter, making it more of a Opting for Non-Food Items tradition. Others opt for new baskets of sorts each year. If you are looking for something to use beyond the traditional basket, you may want While most people tend to think of food items to consider choosing one that can be reused in when it comes to what goes inside the baskets, other ways. For example, consider making it out there are plenty of other options to consider. of something they can use in their room Think of some non-food items that your child afterward, such as a wastebasket, bin for hair Top: Decorate your would like that you can add in. For younger accessories, a jewelry box, a new box for holding own eggs for an children opt for things like puzzles, coloring their Legos, a carry bag or backpack, or a new Easter this books, crayons, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, a jump lunch box. year and add fun rope, silly socks, and a small stuffed animal. For prizes instead of too much candy. teenagers, in addition to their favorite brace- Other Options to Consider friendly treats you can opt for things like an iTunes gift card, movie tickets, books, nail polish Easter is just days away from Earth Day, which and lip gloss, hair accessories, a CD, and gives you one more issue you can take into headphones. You can even throw in a gas card consideration when preparing a basket, if you for those teens who have a car. Small non-food are so inclined. Putting together an eco-friendly items like this will be a big hit with kids of all Easter basket is actually a lot easier than you ages and you have no brace issues to worry may realize. The most important issue to keep in about. mind is the waste. Consider the plastics that you There are a lot of treats that kids can have even may use in the basket and that will be pitched in though they have braces. You may not be able to the trash soon after being opened. Plastic grab a pre-made Easter basket at the store, refillable eggs are fine to use if they will be because many of them are filled with items that reused, and then recycled when you are finished they should probably steer clear of. But if you with them. While it may not be related to braces, take on the creative challenge of making your taking care of the environment helps to keep own baskets for the kids you will be able to our planet healthy and beautiful, providing us better control what goes into them, as well as all a reason to show off our beautiful smiles. tailor them more to their needs. Chances are, To add a little more fun to your Easter morning, you will also end up filling them with items that consider setting up a scavenger hunt for the they even prefer. kids. Whether they are younger or teens, they JOURNAL OF SPECTACULAR SMILES 17

“Consider an hunt that doesn’t with the basket you put together that include so much candy this year. Include fun they won’t even miss the few things that were off limits. prizes or gift cards for older kids and teens.”

Braces Friendly Treats for Easter will have fun. You can provide a set of Making it Special clues that keep them moving along, Peanut butter cups inside and outside the home, to where Hershey kisses Easter is a fun time, whether you they eventually make their way to Decorated brownies discovering where their Easter basket celebrate it by going to church or Iced sugar cookies has been hidden. Yet another option having a big homemade breakfast and Soft cereal bars that some parents like to do is to put a special family dinner. It’s a great time Homemade jellies all the treats into the refillable eggs for everyone to enjoy the day, be Fresh fruit and then put them around the home together, and to celebrate in the many and yard, giving the kids a chance to individual ways that families do. No Hard-boiled eggs have their own Easter egg hunt, and matter how you choose to celebrate Bottled smoothies without all the competition you may Easter you can always put a smile on Pudding cups find at a community egg hunt. your child’s face, from toddlers to Chocolate eggs Personally, I have always enjoyed teens, with a basket filled with fun Cotton candy decorating some hard-boiled eggs with goodies. Don’t let wearing braces take Marshmallows the kids and using these as rewards for away that traditional excitement. non-candy gifts after the egg hunt is Instead, work around it and stick to over and everyone is stuffed with those things that your child can enjoy. candy. Chances are, they will be so happy