Whether you need braces or your child does, straightening teeth is a great choice to improve your bite, keep your mouth healthy, and shape a smile you’ll love.
But we understand that you may have some concerns about getting braces, such as what you can or can’t eat while getting treatment to straighten your teeth – and that includes candy! However, there is good news for those with a “sweet tooth.” It is possible to eat candy while wearing braces, as long as it is not sticky or taffy-like. Read on to learn more.
Types of Braces
What candy you can eat when wearing braces depends on the type of straightening treatment you choose. We offer these treatments to make your or your child’s smile look its best, including:
- Metal braces
- Invisalign
What’s the best choice for you? That depends on individual straightening needs, as well as choices based on the amount of time treatment is necessary and the cost of treatment.
What Are the Best Foods to Eat When Wearing Metal Braces?
If you’ve chosen traditional metal braces, there are many different kinds of tasty food you can eat without causing any problems. While there are some foods that you should avoid, including certain types of candy, first, look at all the food choices that you can have.
Foods you can eat easily with metal braces include:
- Dairy products, such as cheese and milk drinks
- Breads, like soft tortillas (not crunchy), pancakes, muffins without any nuts
- Grains such as pasta of all kinds and soft rice
- Meats, poultry, and seafood including chicken, lunch meat, una, salmon, crab cakes and meatballs
Vegetables such as cooked peas, steamed spinach, beans, and cooked carrots
Fruits, like applesauce, bananas, soft, sliced, skinless fruits, and fruit juices
Treats like ice cream, cake, milkshakes, pudding, and Jell-o
Candy such as milk chocolate bars without nuts or caramel, chocolate kisses, or soft truffles
Foods You Should Skip When Wearing Traditional Metal Braces
You’ve probably noticed that some food items are missing from the list of foods you can eat. There’s a good reason for that. If you choose metal braces to straighten your teeth, avoid items that could damage or get stuck in your braces. These items are no-nos, and do indeed contain some candy on the “don’t eat” list.
- Hard foods, including nuts and hard candies, or chocolates containing nuts
- Chewy foods, like licorice, steaks, or bagels
- Crunchy foods, including chips, ice, or popcorn
- Sticky foods like caramels or taffy as well as gum
- Foods you must bite into, like raw carrots, apples or corn on the cob
Each of these types of food could damage your braces.
Foods to Eat Moderately When Wearing Invisalign Aligners
Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign plastic aligner trays can and in fact must be removed when you eat. But, there are still foot items to eat in moderation when you’re receiving treatment.
- Moderate acidic foods or pair them with base foods, so if you have pasta with an acidic tomato sauce, as an example, add a glass of milk with your meal or leafy greens as a base food, so your aligner trays will not be damaged when you replace them in your mouth.
- Moderate sticky candies or hard foods that might potentially push teeth out of alignment again.
- Moderate sodas and coffee.
- Always be sure to drink plenty of water after eating, to wash away any bad bacteria.
- Smoking, alcohol, and gum are also bad ideas, because the residue each creates can remain on your teeth, yellowing aligner trays or getting stuck on them.
Candy Do’s and Don’ts
While soft chocolates or truffles with a chocolate or fruit filling can be consumed when wearing traditional metal braces, gum, candy with nuts, toffee, licorice, hard candy, taffy, and caramel should be avoided. And if you choose Invisalign aligners, you should still moderate sticky candies that can build up on your teeth.
Ready to Learn More About Straightening Your Teeth?
If you’re ready to learn more about braces or aligners, as well as what you should or shouldn’t eat, including sweets, when your teeth are being straightened, we are here and ready to help! Reach out to us today!