It’s difficult to say no to your favorite treats and sweets, however certain candies need to be avoided with braces. Sugar in general is not good for your teeth, period, but with braces, certain candies can damage and break your braces.
Here are some candies you want to avoid:
Caramel
Caramel is a sweet and often exceedingly sticky and chewy type of candy that just does not mix well with braces. Caramel can cause a mess in regular teeth, but teeth with braces are a whole other story. The sticky candy can very easily get lodged and stuck between the teeth, gums, and braces, making for a difficult task of cleaning your mouth. And if your teeth don’t get cleaned properly, cavities can easily form.
Salt Water Taffy
Another sticky and chewy candy to avoid with braces is salt water taffy. For many of the same reasons as caramel, it is best to avoid taffy until you get your braces removed. It may be a long wait, but when it comes to the health of your teeth, and the purpose of your braces, it really is best to avoid taffy.
Anything Gummy
Anything gummy like gummy bears, or other gummy candies should be avoided. They are also known to stick to teeth and braces.
Hard Candies
Think about how sensitive your teeth can be when you wear braces. Biting into a piece of hard candy can damage your braces. Another problem with hard candies is that they stay in your mouth a long time, which means your teeth are continually bathed with sugar.
Chewy Sweets
Chewy sweets like candy bars that contain nougat, or salt water taffy not only stick to braces and your teeth, but all that chewing could make a band or bracket pop loose.
Sweets with Nuts
Nuts are a healthy snack, but candies with nuts are a terrible choice when you’re wearing braces. They can damage wires, rubber bands, or even your brackets, so it’s best to skip them.
There is good news though… You can still eat some safe sweets and satisfy that craving.
Go with Softer, Melt-in-Your-Mouth Options
If you’re going to have something sweet, go with softer, melt-in-your-mouth sweets like chocolate or peanut butter cups. These choices don’t stick to your teeth as much, they simply melt away. They also aren’t hard to bite into, and they should not cause damage to your braces.
Try Fruit Smoothies for Something Sweet
When you’re in the mood for something sweet, consider trying a fruit smoothie instead of going with a dessert or a piece of candy that’s packed with sugar. Although fruit contains natural sugars, it’s a much healthier choice for your oral health and your overall health. You’ll get something that tastes sweet without doing as much damage to teeth. Another healthier idea is to slice pieces of fruit to snack on instead of grabbing a sugar-laden treat.
Don’t Eat Sugar All Day Long
While it’s fine to indulge in sweets that are safe for braces from time to time, make sure that you’re not eating sugar all day long. Choose a time to eat a treat instead of popping sweets in your mouth off and on throughout your day. Remember, every time you eat sugar you’re starting a new acid attack on your teeth, so don’t put your teeth under attack multiple times a day.
Brush and Floss 30 Minutes After Sweets
Brushing and flossing after indulging in sweets is essential. However, you shouldn’t brush right away. You don’t want to brush while those acids are attacking your teeth since this could cause greater damage to your tooth enamel. After you indulge, immediately rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. Then brush and floss 30 minutes later for the best results. It’s especially important to brush after eating ,well before you go to bed so you don’t have sugar sitting on your teeth all night long.
