đ What Candy Can You Eat with Braces? A Sweet Survival Guide for Teens đŹ
Letâs be realâgetting braces doesnât mean giving up candy forever. But it does mean youâve got to be smart about what you choose. Donât worryâweâve got your back (and your brackets).
Whether youâre counting down to Halloween, prepping for a movie night, or just craving something sweet after school, this guide will tell you exactly what candy you can enjoy with bracesâand what to dodge like itâs spinach in your teeth during a selfie.
đ©ââïž Brought to you by Elate Orthodontics, with locations in Frisco, Prosper, and The Colony.
đ First Things First: Why Candy Matters When You Have Braces
Braces are awesomeâthey straighten your teeth, fix bites, and give you that red-carpet-ready smile. But they also have wires and brackets that donât love sticky, hard, chewy, or crunchy stuff. The wrong kind of candy can:
- Break your brackets or wires đŹ
- Get stuck in places your toothbrush canât reach đȘ„
- Cause cavities (especially if you skip flossing đ)
So how do you stay sweet and smart? Hereâs the cheat sheet.
â Braces-Safe Candy: Sweet Treats That Wonât Get You in Trouble
Letâs kick things off with the good newsâhereâs a list of candies that are braces-approved. These are soft, melt-in-your-mouth, or easy to chew gently.
1. Reeseâs Peanut Butter Cups đ«
Creamy, dreamy, and soft on your braces. The peanut butter + chocolate combo is a total win. No sticky caramel, no crunchy nuts = safe!
2. Kit Kat Bars (Just Donât Freeze Them!) đ«
Break off a pieceâbut gently. Kit Kats are light and crisp enough to bite without much pressure. Just donât eat them frozen (sorry, freezer fans).
3. Hersheyâs Milk Chocolate Bars đ«
Simple, classic, and super melty. Great for movie nights or after a long day of wearing rubber bands. Just let it soften in your mouth before biting.
4. Soft Cookies (Like Sugar or Chocolate Chip) đȘ
Especially the chewy ones! Brands like Chips Ahoy Chewy or homemade versions are good to goâjust avoid hard-baked ones.
5. Marshmallows or Peeps đ„
Super soft and squishy. Great for those late-night sugar cravings. Just brush really well afterwardâmarshmallows love sticking between brackets.
â Candy to Avoid: Trust Us, Itâs Not Worth the Broken Bracket
Youâve got a list of safe sweets. Now letâs talk danger zone.
These candies might seem harmless, but theyâre bracket-busters in disguise. Avoid these until those braces come off:
đŹ Candy Type | đ« Why Itâs a No-Go |
---|---|
Jolly Ranchers | Too hard = cracked brackets |
Tootsie Rolls | Sticky + dense = bracket puller |
Laffy Taffy | Pure sticky chaos |
Skittles & M&Ms (plain) | Too hard to bite safely |
Gummy Bears/Worms | Stick to braces like glue |
Caramel anything | Caramel = bracket supervillain |
Nerds | Tiny but mighty (and risky) |
Jawbreakers | Itâs literally in the name |
đĄ Pro Tips to Stay Sweet (and Cavity-Free)
Even with braces-safe candy, sugar is sugar. Hereâs how to enjoy your favorite treats without risking your smile:
- Brush after eating. If you canât, rinse with water.
- Floss daily. Use threaders if you have toâitâs worth it.
- Eat candy in one sitting. Snacking all day keeps sugar on your teeth longer.
- Avoid biting. Break treats into smaller pieces or let them melt in your mouth.
Bonus tip: Schedule regular checkups at Elate Orthodontics so we can spot any issues early.
đ What About Holidays?
Halloween? Easter? Birthday piñatas? You donât have to miss out.
Just remember this:
- Stick to the âyesâ list
- Trade or donate sticky/hard stuff
- Use braces-safe candy as reward swaps
đ Find Braces-Friendly Orthodontists Near You
Whether you’re in Frisco, The Colony, or Prosper, Elate Orthodontics is here to help you (and your braces) live your best life.
Weâll even show you real-life before-and-after cases of teens who made it through braces like total champsâcandy and all.
đ€ TL;DR: The Sweet Summary
â YES to:
- Soft chocolate (Reeseâs, Kit Kat, Hersheyâs)
- Chewy cookies
- Marshmallows & Peeps
â NO to:
- Hard candies
- Gummy stuff
- Caramel
- Anything sticky or crunchy
đŠ· Got Braces Questions? Text Us or Stop By!
We love when teens ask questionsâweâre here for it. Whether youâre wondering what you can eat, how to clean your braces, or when youâll be done, weâre just a text or call away.
Because at Elate Orthodontics, weâre not just about straight teethâweâre about making the journey fun.