From Glander Rochford Orthodontics | Greenwood, IN | Southside Indianapolis
October is all about spooky fun — haunted houses, scary movies, and trick-or-treating. But some habits are truly frightening for your smile… especially if you're in orthodontic treatment.
At Glander Rochford Orthodontics, we’re here to make sure our patients from Greenwood, Center Grove, and the southside of Indianapolis avoid the real-life horror stories that can happen when you don’t take care of your braces or aligners.
Here are some “scary smile habits” to stay far, far away from this fall — and what to do instead! 👻
🧟♂️ 1. Biting Your Nails
Why it’s scary: Nail biting can damage your braces, push your teeth out of alignment, and even cause small cracks in your teeth.
Try this instead: Keep a stress ball nearby, apply bitter nail polish, or ask us for tips if you’re struggling to stop!
🍬 2. Chewing on Ice, Pens, or Hard Candy
Why it’s scary: These hard objects can snap brackets, bend wires, or even damage enamel — delaying your treatment.
Tip for Halloween: Stick to soft treats like peanut butter cups, plain chocolate bars, or soft cookies. And if you’re wearing Invisalign, remove your aligners before eating!
👻 3. Skipping Your Rubber Bands (Elastics)
Why it’s scary: Elastics help guide your bite into the right position. Skipping them slows down your progress and can extend your treatment time.
Pro tip: Keep extra elastics in your backpack, lunchbox, or car — and set a reminder on your phone if you tend to forget!
🦇 4. Not Wearing Your Retainer (Post-Treatment)
Why it’s scary: Teeth can shift back quickly after treatment if you don’t wear your retainer as directed. We hate seeing all that hard work go to waste!
Retainer rule: Wear it every night, clean it regularly, and let us know if it’s feeling too tight or gets lost.
🪦 5. Poor Brushing & Flossing
Why it’s scary: Food and plaque can get trapped around brackets or aligners. This leads to stains, cavities, and swollen gums — all of which can affect your final results.
Fix it fast: Brush after every meal, floss daily, and consider a water flosser to make things easier with braces.
🎃 Treat Your Smile with Care This Fall
At Glander Rochford Orthodontics, we’re not here to scare you — we’re here to support you every step of the way!
Whether you’re wearing braces or Invisalign, small daily habits make a big difference in how quickly and beautifully your smile transforms.
We proudly serve patients from:
Greenwood, Indiana
Southside Indianapolis
Bargersville
Whiteland
Center Grove
...and surrounding communities!
🦷 Need Help Fixing a “Scary” Smile Problem?
Have a broken bracket, lost retainer, or poking wire? Call or text us right away — we’re happy to help!
📞 Schedule your next appointment or free consultation today. Call or text 317-888-2827.
Let’s keep your treatment on track and your smile looking boo-tiful! 🎃
