What Candies Can You Eat With Braces? The Orthodontist-Approved Guide (2024)
However, there is some good news to it, and that is that having braces does not imply a total ban on candy. According to the clinical guidelines of the American Association of Orthodontists, this is a definitive guide in satisfying your sweet tooth in a safe manner. We will go beyond the yes/no list and will discuss the reason behind the rules, classify the popular candies by their risk, and pro tips on how to deal with cravings. Let’s unlock the sweet science of what candy can you eat with braces without compromising your smile’s progress.
The Golden Rules: Why Certain Candies Are Orthodontic Kryptonite
It is important to be aware of the three primary properties that make a candy a hazard to braces before we get into specific treats. Orthodontic appliances are fine tools attached to your teeth by glue and susceptible to attack in three ways:
- Hardness (Bracket Breakers): Candy that is difficult to chew has the ability to tear the small connection between the bracket and your tooth enamel. This is in hard candies, lollipops and even chocolate bars, which contain nuts.
- Chewiness & Stickiness (Wire Benders): Sticky or gummy candy are really sticky and can become entangled around brackets and wires. The glue may not come off when you attempt to loosen it or the wire may go out of shape disturbing the meticulously balanced pressure that is pushing your teeth.
- High Acidity (Enamel Eroders): Sour candies are usually full of citric and other acids that may make enamel surrounding the brackets weak and vulnerable to decay and white spots lesions once the braces are removed.
Expert Insight: A 2023 study in the Journal of Clinical Orthodontics found that dietary non-compliance, particularly with hard and sticky foods, was a leading cause of emergency repair visits, increasing average treatment time by 1-3 months.
The Green Light: Safe Candy Choices You Can Enjoy
Now for the fun part. When evaluating what kind of candy can you eat with braces, focus on options that are soft, melt quickly, and aren’t sticky. These treats satisfy a sweet craving without putting mechanical stress on your appliances.
1. Soft Chocolate-Based Candies (The Safest Bet)
Pure, soft chocolate is generally the best option for brace-wearers. It melts easily and doesn’t stick to hardware.
- M&Ms (without peanuts): The candy shell is thin enough to dissolve or melt quickly. Avoid peanut M&Ms as the nut poses a hard-bite risk.
- Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate Bars: Like Hershey’s or Dove. Ensure they don’t contain nuts, crisped rice, or caramel centers.
- Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads: Like Nutella eaten with a soft spoon (not on toast, which can be crunchy).
- 3 Musketeers: Fluffy nougat and chocolate—no hard or sticky elements.
Pro Tip: Let chocolate-based candies soften slightly in your mouth before chewing to minimize any risk.
2. Melt-in-Your-Mouth Options
These candies dissolve almost entirely, requiring minimal to no chewing.
- Powdered Candy: Like Pixy Stix or Fun Dip. (Be mindful of the sugar content and rinse your mouth with water afterward).
- Soft Mints: Like York Peppermint Patties or after-dinner mints that are soft and not hard.
3. The “Proceed with Extreme Caution” Sour Category
This is a tricky area. The biggest issue when it comes to what sour candy can you eat with braces is no longer the hardware damage but the health of the enamel. The majority of sour powders and highly chewy sour candies pose a two-fold threat: they are both acidic and sticky.
A softer, non-chewy sour liquid candy, such as Warheads Sour Liquids, is the least dangerous to have as a sour fix. Nevertheless, the acid concentration remains highly high.
Important Notice: Do not brush your teeth right after you take any acidic candy. The acid makes the enamel soft and brushing may wear it off. Rather, wet well with water and leave it at least half an hour before brushing.
The Red Light: Dangerous Candies to Absolutely Avoid
This list is non-negotiable. These are the top culprits for broken brackets and bent wires. Orthodontists universally agree that avoiding these will save you significant hassle and pain.
- Hard candies: Jolly Ranchers, Life Savers, lollipops (Dum Dum, Tootsie Pops), candy canes. To chew is to strike your brackets with a tiny hammer.
- Chewy and Sticky Candies: Taffy (Laffy Taffy, Saltwater Taffy, Snickers), caramel (Milky Ways, Snickers) gummies (Gummy Bears, Starburst), Skittles, Tootsie Rolls, Now and Laters. Some claim that it is okay to suck Skittles and Tootsie Rolls, but the chances of chew are too high.
- Peanut based or Crispy Candies: Peanut M&Ms, Mr. Goodbar, Kit Kats, Crunch bars, Heath bars. Hard and sticky go together and this is a nightmare to braces.
- Popcorn: Not a candy, however, one of the significant types of braces hazard. Unpopped kernels are able to crack brackets easily.
Braces-Friendly Candy Comparison Table
| Candy Type | Specific Examples | Risk Level | Why & How to Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Chocolate | Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar (plain), 3 Musketeers | Very Low | Melts easily. Best overall choice. Avoid any with add-ins. |
| Dissolving Candy | Pixy Stix, Fun Dip | Low | No chewing needed. High sugar content—rinse with water after. |
| Soft Peanut Butter Cups | Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups | Medium | The peanut butter can be sticky. Let it melt in your mouth as much as possible. Eat in small, cold pieces. |
| Sour Candy | Warheads (Hard), Sour Patch Kids | Very High | Hard variety breaks brackets; chewy variety is sticky and acidic. Best to avoid entirely. |
| Chewy Caramel | Milky Way, Caramel Apple Pops | Extreme | Guaranteed to pull on brackets and wires. Strictly forbidden. |
How to Safely Enjoy Candy with Braces: A 5-Step Protocol
If you choose to indulge, follow this orthodontist-recommended protocol to minimize risk.
- Choose Wisely: Refer to the “Green Light” list above. Always opt for the softest, least sticky option available.
- Prepare the Candy: Break large chocolate bars into small, bite-sized pieces with your hands to avoid using your front teeth.
- Eat Mindfully: Place the candy directly onto your molars (back teeth), which are better equipped for chewing. Avoid biting down with your front teeth, where brackets are most vulnerable.
- Swish Immediately: Take a sip of water immediately after eating and swish it around your mouth vigorously. This helps dislodge sugar and debris from around your brackets and wires.
- Clean Thoroughly: Brush and floss within 30-60 minutes of eating. Use an interdental brush to clean around brackets. If brushing isn’t possible, swishing with water again is a good temporary measure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I eat chocolate with braces?
Yes, soft plain chocolate is one of the safest candy choices. The trick is to make sure it does not have hard, sticky or crunchy inclusions such as nuts, caramel, crisped rice or hard centres. A milk or dark chocolate bar is a simple choice.
So what of ice cream or frozen desserts?
Milkshakes, smoothies and ice creams that are soft-serve are great braces-friendly! But take care when using hard ice cream on a stick (as with a traditional ice cream bar) when it is too frozen to bite easily. Allow it to become softened a few moments.
I had an accident, I took a forbidden candy. What should I do?
Don’t panic. Stop eating immediately. Wash your mouth as well as possible with warm water to clear out any debris. Check the mirror carefully, to see whether the damage, such as loose brackets or sticking wires, can be observed. In the event that anything is loose, misplaced or painful, make an appointment with your orthodontist to have a repair done.
Do sugar-free candies exist and are safe?
A healthier option to chewing gum, though not chewing, can be sugar free soft chocolates or hard candies which are designed to be sucked rather than chewed because they do not feed the bacteria that cause cavity. Nevertheless, these are the same principles: do not eat hard candies that you need to bite and gum sticky sugar-free chews.
How soon can I eat normal candy with braces?
Once your orthodontist takes off your braces and after your teeth have settled down, you can resume a regular diet, including all the candies that you were avoiding. Nevertheless, it is always a good dental habit to eat sweet and acidic sweets in small amounts so as to safeguard your enamel in the long run.
Summary: Intelligent Decisions Can Produce a quicker, healthier smile.
Learning to walk around when you have braces is a lesson about compromising. Although the list of prohibited treats may look like a long one the list of safe and pleasureful options is abundant enough to keep your sweet tooth content. Keep in mind that executing your orthodontics treatment isn’t only about staying out of a torn bracket but making sure that your investment is as productive, comfortable, and affordable as possible.
The most important lessons to learn are these: anything soft and melt-in-your-mouth is preferable, keep off hard and sticky like the plague, and cleanse your mouth with the utmost care and attention. You are now in a position to make intelligent decisions that will keep you on track with your treatment by knowing the reasons behind the rules.
Your next step? Discuss with your orthodontist before you get another craving. They are able to give individual guidance depending on your treatment plan. And on your next adjustment visit, why not have a smoothie? It is the final braces friendly snack. To learn more about living with braces, check out our ultimate guide to [what to eat during the first week of braces] for more advice.
What Braces Color Should I Get? Best Choices for Every Personality
