Having braces can feel restrictive, but you don’t have to give up all your favorite candies. Many sweets are still safe to eat with orthodontic appliances. Understanding which treats to avoid and which ones are braces-friendly can help you enjoy candy while protecting your teeth.
Hard Candy
Hard candies like lollipops, jawbreakers, and peppermints can cause damage to braces. Their hardness puts excess force on the brackets and wires, which can loosen or break them. Sticky candies like taffy and gummies can also get stuck in the braces and be difficult to remove.
Chocolate
Chocolate is generally fine for braces as long as you choose the right types. Milk chocolate and dark chocolate tend to be smooth and creamy. They melt at mouth temperature, so they won’t put pressure on your orthodontics. However, crunchy chocolates with nuts, caramel, or rice crispies could be an issue. Enjoy chocolate in moderation, and be diligent about brushing afterward.
Chewy Candy
Chewy candies like Starbursts, Skittles, Swedish Fish, and Jolly Ranchers are usually braces-safe. Their soft, pliable texture allows them to bend instead of break when chewing. This puts minimal stress on brackets. One exception is caramels-they can become sticky and adhere to dental appliances. Thoroughly rinse after eating.
Sour Candy
Sour candies are acidic and can potentially damage tooth enamel over time. However, enjoying them occasionally while you have braces is unlikely to cause harm. Sour Punch Straws, Warheads, Lemonheads, and Sour Patch Kids tend to be firm but not super hard or sticky. Rinse with water after eating to neutralize the acidity.
Marshmallows
Marshmallows are soft and easy to chew, so they get the green light for braces wearers. Regular and mini marshmallows are safe bets. Avoid chocolate-dipped or sugar-coated versions, which could leave sticky residue behind. Limit consumption, since marshmallows contain lots of sugar.
Gummy Candy
Some gummy candies are fine for braces while others should be avoided. Look for gummies that have a firm/chewy texture, like Haribo Gold Bears, Black Forest Gummies, and Albanese Gummi Bears. They shouldn’t get stuck. Avoid really sticky, gluey gummies that could adhere to your orthodontics.
Licorice
Red licorice, Twizzlers, and other soft licorice candies are unlikely to damage braces. Their texture allows them to bend and twist. Select softer licorice ropes rather than harder, brittle varieties. Red licorice also contains less sugar than black licorice.
Popcorn and Chips
Crunchy snacks like popcorn and potato chips aren’t recommended for braces. Their hardness combined with sharp edges can snap wires or dislodge brackets. Stick to softer snacks like pretzels and pita chips. If you do eat chips or popcorn, chew carefully on the back teeth.
Sticky Foods
Extremely sticky foods like caramel, gum, and taffy should be avoided altogether. They can adhere to brackets and bend wires. Even once dislodged, they leave behind sticky residue that can trap new food particles. Rinsing doesn’t fully remove sticky foods from braces.
Hard Foods
Avoid excessively hard foods that require biting or tearing with the front teeth. Things like nuts, seeds, hard granola bars, crackers, crusty bread, corn on the cob, and raw veggies are too hard. They exert pressure on braces that can cause damage over time. Modify hard foods by steaming, boiling, or baking them soft.
Chewy Foods
Super chewy foods can also be an issue for braces. Tougher meats like steak, dried fruits like apricots, bagels, licorice ropes, and chewing gum require prolonged chewing. This constant pressure and friction can weaken cement and loosen brackets. Take care when eating chewy foods.
Crumbly Foods
Beware of crumbly foods that can get lodged in braces. Items like granola, cereals, chips, muffins, cookies, crackers, and poppy seed bagels leave debris. Brush and floss carefully after eating to remove all crumbs. You may wish to cut back on crumbly snacks.
Acidic Foods
Acidic foods and beverages can erode tooth enamel over time. Things like citrus fruits, berries, pickles, soda, and apple cider vinegar are highly acidic. Limit consumption of acidic items and rinse with plain water afterward.
Sugary Foods
While sugar doesn’t directly damage braces, it can lead to cavities from plaque buildup. Candy, chocolate, baked goods, ice cream, sugary cereal, and other sweets feed the bacteria around your brackets. Be sure to brush and floss thoroughly after eating sugary foods.
Dirty Foods
Messy foods like corn on the cob, ribs, wings, and chili dogs get debris stuck in braces. Skip these foods or use caution while eating them. Thoroughly rinse your mouth afterward to remove all food particles. You may wish to eat them less frequently.
Healthy Snacks for Braces
When hunger strikes, reach for these nutritious, braces-safe snacks:
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Pudding
- Cottage cheese
- Fresh fruits like bananas, strawberries, pineapple, peaches, and melons
- Soft cooked vegetables like green beans, peas, baked potatoes, and sweet potatoes
- Mashed avocado
- Hummus
- Eggs
- Oatmeal
- Pasta
- Rice
- Soup
- Smoothies
- Milkshakes
Brace-Friendly Candy in Moderation
Enjoy these sweets in moderation while wearing braces:
- Starburst
- Skittles
- Swedish Fish
- Jolly Ranchers
- Laffy Taffy
- Nerds
- Runts
- Gummy Bears
- Gummy Worms
- Haribo Gold Bears
- Albanese Gummi Bears
- Black Forest Gummies
- Sour Punch Straws
- Lifesavers
- Jelly beans
- Milk chocolate
- Dark chocolate
- Kit Kat
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Twix
- Marshmallows
- Licorice
- Lollipops
- Dum Dums
- Blow Pops
Candy to Avoid with Braces
Steer clear of these candy culprits that can damage braces:
- Gummy Bears
- Caramel
- Taffy
- Gum
- Jawbreakers
- Lollipops
- Pop Rocks
- Hard candy
- Suckers
- Pixy Stix
- Licorice ropes
- Tootsie Rolls
- Candy Corn
- nuts
Conclusion
Having braces doesn’t mean eliminating all sweets. Many candies are perfectly fine for orthodontic appliances when eaten carefully. Focus on smooth, soft textures that avoid hard crunching or overly sticky chews. Sour candies, chocolate, gummies, licorice, lollipops, Lifesavers, and jelly beans top the list of brace-friendly treats. Limit acidic, sugary, and dirty candies that can cause tooth decay or damage braces. With some thoughtful candy choices, you can still satisfy your sweet tooth while wearing orthodontic appliances.
