One of the common dilemmas of people with braces is that they have lots of foods that they can’t eat and one of those is candy. There are times that you have a sugar craving and you are tempted to sink your teeth into a gooey candy bar. However, eating candy when you have braces is not recommended for a lot of reasons. But don’t fret because there are some that you can still enjoy without damaging your braces or bending its wire.
If you have braces but you still want to enjoy eating candy, you’re in the right place. Today, we are going to give you a guide on what candy you can eat and cannot eat.
NOTE: Always check with your Orthodontist before eating anything your unsure of for your particular dental needs.
Candies That Are Safe for Braces
Here are some of the candies that are safe to be eaten by people who wear braces.
Pure Chocolate Bars
If you are craving for some chocolate candy, skip the chocolate-coated nut bars and go for a pure chocolate bar or bite-sized chocolate candy instead. Some of the chocolate candy you can enjoy are Hershey’s bars and kisses and other higher-end gourmet chocolate bars. Also, instead of biting directly into the chocolate bar, you can break it off into smaller pieces so that you can enjoy it safely.
Mint Candies
People with braces can safely indulge in mint candies. It’s because they are soft enough to bite without braking a bracket and they will also not get trapped between the wires, brackets, and teeth because they are not too sticky. However, these candies are still packed with sugar even though they have a refreshing taste. Therefore, after eating some, make sure that you immediately rinse your mouth with water to remove sugar from your teeth and make sure that you also brush your teeth before sleeping.
Peanut Butter Cups
If you love peanut butter, you can enjoy eating Reese’s cups and pieces. This candy is soft enough to enjoy without breaking a bracket and it is not too sticky to risk getting stuck between the wires and your teeth. This will get your peanut butter fix when you crave.
Kit Kat and Nestle Crunch
If you are craving for something sweet and crunchy, you can go for Kit Kat and Nestle Crunch bars because they are crunchy but not that hard and will not damage your braces. They also do not have nuts and are not chewy.
Candies That Are Not Safe for Braces
Here are some of the candies you need to avoid if you have braces.
Caramel Candies
For anyone wearing braces, eating caramel candies or any treat that contains caramel is a big no. It’s because caramels can easily get stuck in your braces. Aside from that, it is also very difficult to clean up if it gets stuck to your braces and it can also tear off your bracket. You also need to avoid caramel apples because biting into the hardened exterior can damage your braces and can also chip your teeth.
Chewy Candies
Just like caramel candies, chewy candies can also be lodged easily between your teeth and braces. Aside from that, it can also get stuck to a bracket and pull the bracket off as well. Therefore, if you have braces, you need to avoid candies like tootsie rolls, gumdrops, Airheads, and Starbursts.
Hard Candies
Hard candies are not safe for people with braces because they can pop off brackets, bend wires, and chip teeth. If you are wearing braces, avoid eating jawbreakers, jolly ranchers, Nerds, and Tic Tac because all of them have a reputation for damaging braces.
Toffee or Brittle
Toffee and brittle are candies that start hard and then becomes chewy as it warms up in the mouth. These type of candies are bad for braces. When you are wearing braces, it means that your teeth are going to be sensitive. Therefore, eating something hard or chewy can be very uncomfortable and unsafe.
Nut-Containing Candies and Candy Bars
People with braces should also skip any kind of candies with nuts such as Snickers, Almond Joy, Payday, and other nutty candies. Just go for peanut butter cups if you really love nuts.
What to Do When Candy Gets Stuck in Your Teeth?
If you’ve been indulging in candies and sweets and noticed that some bits were stuck in your teeth, here are some of the things you can do to get them out of your teeth safely.
Do Not Use Metal Tools
If candy is stuck in your teeth, never scrape at it with a piece of metal because this can damage your braces and teeth. Use a toothpick, dental pick, or dental floss to get it out. These will help you easily get the stuck candy out without causing any damage to your braces, tooth, or irritate your gum line.
Do Not Force Getting It Out with Your Tongue
Sometimes, it’s easy to get stuck foods in your teeth out using the tongue. However, if you can’t get rid of it right away, do not force it because it can lead to jaw pain and chewing problems. You can instead swish some liquid in your mouth to loosen the bit of food or candy.
Floss Gently
When candy gets stuck in your teeth, you can use a floss to pull it gently. Do not try to pull it hard if it won’t come out because it can lead to damaging your braces as well. If it does not work, just use a different kind of floss or a toothpick and gently try again.
If you have braces, you don’t need to be sad because there are still lots of candies you can eat in that will not harm your braces. You just need to always use discretion when eating any candy and keep in mind to indulge in moderation. You also need to brush your teeth after eating sweets as well. We hope the information we shared will help you in knowing what candies are safe for braces.