What Candy Can You Eat With Braces?

Getting braces doesn’t mean you have to give up on all your favorite sweets! While some candies can damage your braces or get stuck in the wires, there are plenty of braces-friendly options that let you satisfy your sweet tooth safely. Learning which treats are okay to eat and which ones to avoid will help protect your orthodontic work and keep your smile transformation on track. Ready to discover how to satisfy your sweet cravings safely? Let’s dive in!

Safe Candies for Braces

At Kelson Orthodontics, we’ve helped thousands of patients – kids, teens, and adults alike – successfully navigate their orthodontic journey while still enjoying their favorite treats. As your trusted orthodontic team, we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you make smart choices about candy during your treatment.

Here are the safest candy options for patients with braces:

• Soft Chocolates: Our orthodontists approve plain Hershey’s bars, Kit Kats, and Hershey’s Kisses – just avoid versions with nuts or caramel.
• Peanut Butter Cups: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are a patient favorite because they soften quickly and won’t damage your braces.
• Cool Mint Treats: York Peppermint Patties and Junior Mints get our thumbs up for their smooth, melt-away texture.
• Fluffy Favorites: We recommend marshmallows for their gentle, braces-friendly texture.
• Smooth Candy Bars: Our team recommends bars with soft centers, such as 3 Musketeers, over harder alternatives.

See? You’ve got plenty of delicious options to satisfy those sweet cravings! Just remember to enjoy these treats in moderation and take good care of those braces afterward. And hey – if you’re ever unsure about a specific candy, just ask us at your next visit. We’re always here to help you make those brace-friendly choices!

Candies to Avoid

While we want you to enjoy treats during your treatment, certain candies can cause serious damage to your braces or significantly delay your progress. Here are the types of candy you’ll need to avoid:

• Hard Candies: Jolly Ranchers, lollipops, and jawbreakers can break brackets or bend wires. Even if you plan to suck on them, there’s too much risk of accidentally biting down.
• Sticky Sweets: Caramels, taffy, Tootsie Rolls, and Starburst might be tempting, but they can pull brackets right off your teeth and are extremely difficult to clean from your braces.
• Chewy Candies: Stay away from Skittles, Now and Laters, and Airheads – these can bend wires and loosen brackets.
• Nuts and Crunchy Additions: Avoid any candy bars with nuts, crispy rice, or similar crunchy ingredients. That means no Snickers, Crunch bars, or Almond Joy.
• Sour Candies: We strongly recommend avoiding Sour Patch Kids, Warheads, Sour Punch Straws, AirHeads Xtremes, Lemonheads, Toxic Waste, and sour Skittles.
• Gum: While not technically candy, we need to mention that regular chewing gum is off-limits. (If you’re craving gum, ask us about braces-friendly alternatives at your next visit!)

Don’t let that list of “no-no” candies get you down! There are still tons of yummy treats you can enjoy while wearing braces. It’s all about making smart choices that keep your future smile looking amazing.

Tips for Eating Candy with Braces

Even when enjoying brace-friendly candies, it’s important to follow some simple guidelines to protect your orthodontic work. Here are our top recommendations:

• Timing Matters: Try having your sweet treats during mealtimes when you can – this is way better than snacking on candy throughout the day. And skip the late-night candy cravings! When you eat sweets right before bed, that sugar just hangs out on your teeth all night long (definitely not what we want!).
• Cut into Bite-Sized Pieces: Even braces-friendly candy can be tricky to eat in large pieces. We recommend cutting your treats into smaller, more manageable bites before enjoying them. This simple step helps protect your braces from unnecessary stress, making it easier to avoid accidentally bending wires or loosening brackets.
• Brush and Floss After Indulging: Be sure to brush and floss thoroughly after enjoying your treats (within 30 minutes of eating) – this helps remove any sugary bits that can hide around your braces. Take your time working around those brackets and wires, and don’t forget those tricky spaces between your teeth.
• Limit Your Consumption: While we want you to enjoy your favorite candies, we recommend keeping them as special occasion treats rather than everyday snacks. Think of it this way – saving candy for special moments makes them even more enjoyable when you do indulge!
• Drink Water: A good rinse with water helps wash away those sugary bits and acids that love to hang out on your teeth. Plus, it’s great for gently dislodging any sneaky candy particles that might try to hide in your braces. We recommend taking a few good sips and swishing the water around.
• Check with Our Team: If you’re ever unsure about a particular candy, don’t hesitate to ask during your appointments. Our orthodontic team will gladly provide personalized guidance based on your specific treatment plan.
• Be Mindful of Sensitivity: Got sensitive teeth? No worries – it’s pretty common during orthodontic treatment! Just stick to room-temperature treats and those melt-in-your-mouth candies we talked about earlier.

With these tips in your back pocket, you can totally satisfy those candy cravings while keeping your teeth healthy and your braces in tip-top shape. It’s all about finding that sweet spot (pun intended!) between enjoying treats and taking care of your smile.

What to Do if Candy Damages Your Braces

Uh-oh! Did a sneaky piece of candy cause some trouble with your braces? Don’t panic – we’ve got you covered! Here’s what to do if you run into any candy-related mishaps:

• Check the Damage: Take a careful look in the mirror to assess any damage to your braces. Examine your brackets and wires thoroughly, checking for any wires that may be sticking out or brackets that feel loose when gently touched. If you notice any pieces have fallen off, such as brackets or rubber bands, be sure to collect and save them – this can be helpful when you visit us for repairs.
• Quick Fixes for Common Issues: If you get food stuck in your braces, don’t worry – it happens to everyone! Simply reach for your interdental brush or water flosser to gently remove any trapped particles. If you’re dealing with a poking wire? Use a clean tweezer to carefully nudge it back into place, or better yet, cover it with orthodontic wax until you can visit us. And if you notice a loose bracket, resist the urge to wiggle it – as long as it’s still attached to the wire, the best thing to do is leave it in place and avoid touching it until your next appointment.
• When to Call Us: If you notice any serious issues with your braces, please call our office immediately. This includes situations where a bracket has completely detached from your tooth, if you notice any bent or broken wires, when you’re experiencing pain that seems unusual, or even if something just doesn’t feel quite right. We’d much rather you reach out to us with what might turn out to be a minor concern than wait and risk complications with your treatment.

While you’re waiting for your appointment with us, there are several steps you can take to stay comfortable and protect your braces:

• First, stick to eating soft foods only – this helps prevent any additional stress on your orthodontic work.
• Be extra diligent about keeping the affected area clean to avoid irritation or inflammation around your braces.
• If you’re experiencing any poking or prodding from wires, don’t hesitate to use orthodontic wax – that’s exactly what it’s there for!
• If you’re feeling any discomfort, over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage any soreness until we can see you.

These simple steps will help keep you comfortable and prevent further complications until we can get everything back on track at your next visit.

? Having an orthodontic emergency? Call our dedicated emergency line at 208-378-1300. Remember, the sooner you let us know about any damage, the quicker we can fix it and get your treatment back on track.

Sweet Alternatives You’ll Love

Let’s take a look at some amazing treats that are just as delicious as candy but way safer for your braces:

• Fresh Fruits: Nature’s candy to the rescue! Grab some juicy berries, sweet bananas, or tangy oranges for a natural sugar fix. Just remember to cut those harder fruits into bite-sized pieces – your braces will thank you!
• Yogurt and Smoothies: Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey is like having dessert for breakfast! And smoothies are basically milkshakes in disguise – throw in your favorite fruits, and you’ve got a braces-friendly treat that tastes amazing.
• Applesauce: Applesauce is a fantastic alternative when you’re looking for something sweet and easy to eat. Go for the unsweetened kind if you can – it’s still naturally sweet but without all that extra sugar.
• Pudding and Gelatin: Pudding and gelatin are like a big hug for your sweet tooth – super soft, totally safe, and come in basically every flavor under the sun.
• Soft Baked Goods: Fresh-baked muffins, cheesecakes, pillowy cookies, and moist banana bread are totally fair game! Just skip the nuts and hard chunks, and you’re good to go.
• Frozen Treats: Ice cream lovers, rejoice! Soft-serve, milkshakes, and frozen yogurt are all on the “yes” list. Just stick to the smooth stuff without any crunchy mix-ins. Want something lighter? Sorbet is your new best friend!

Keep some of these goodies ready to grab when those sweet cravings hit. Having pre-cut fruit in the fridge or individual pudding cups handy can be a real lifesaver when you’re in the mood for something sweet!

Still have questions about enjoying sweets with your braces? We get it – navigating treats during treatment can be tricky! Our friendly team at Kelson Orthodontics is always happy to help you figure out what works best for your smile. Give us a call or stop by for a chat – we promise no question is too small when it comes to keeping your treatment on track and your sweet tooth satisfied! Your comfort and your beautiful smile are what matter most to us.