Candy to Always Avoid When You Have Traditional Braces

However, if you are diligent about your dental hygiene routine and keep up with your regular dental checkups, enjoying a sweet treat every now and then is not going to make or break your oral health. Many parents are more lenient about how much sugar their children consume when it comes to special occasions like holidays and birthdays. But if your child has braces, there are certain types of candy that they should always avoid.

Which Candies Should Be Avoided

The worst types of candy to eat if you have braces are chewy, sticky, and hard varieties. Soft, chewy, and sticky candies such as:

• Taffy
• Caramel
• Licorice
• Chewing gum
• Gummies
• Jelly beans
• Starbursts
• Tootsie Rolls

These candies can stick to your teeth and braces, making them difficult to clean off. They can even pull the brackets off of your teeth and bend the wires of braces.

Candies with small, hard pieces, such as:

• M&Ms
• Skittles
• Nut-filled chocolate bars

...can also be harmful if you have braces. Small pieces can get stuck under the wires of braces and damage brackets. Similarly, popcorn, toffee, and nut brittle should also be avoided by braces-wearers.

Which Sweets Are Okay to Eat with Braces

Luckily, your child does not have to completely miss out on sweet treats just because he or she has braces. Most chocolate is soft enough to melt in the mouth and does not require lots of chewing, so your child can still enjoy:

• Chocolate bars
• Hershey’s Kisses
• Peppermint Patties
• Peanut butter cups

Hard candy can also be safe for braces as long as your child sucks the candy until it completely dissolves rather than biting down.

Of course, your child can also still enjoy sweet treats such as:

• Ice cream
• Frozen yogurt
• Soft baked goods like cookies and brownies

Contact our office if you have questions about other foods your child should avoid with braces.