What Candy Is OK for Braces?
Last updated: October 25, 2016 in Braces
Published by Dr. Charles Gemmi
A Board Certified Orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Charles Gemmi has been a practicing orthodontist with Orthodontics Limited since 2000 and is a member of the teaching staff at Einstein Medical Center. Orthodontics Limited is a Diamond+ Provider of Invisalign in Philadelphia and Hatboro, PA.
Last Update: 25 Jan 2022
Halloween is almost here and that means it’s candy season! Your teen might be excited about getting dressed up and going trick or treating with their friends, but if they have braces, it should be noted that they aren’t going to be able to eat all of the candy that they collect. Even if they are just staying home and watching scary movies, they are probably going to want to eat some candy.
Here are the types of candy that are alright to eat with braces and what types of candy should definitely be avoided.
1. Chocolate
Chocolate is perfectly fine for braces. Any type of soft chocolate, from a chocolate bar to a peanut butter cup is going to be perfectly fine for your kid when they have braces. It’s important to watch out for really large or hard pieces of chocolate, however. If, for some reason, they are given a huge piece of chocolate, it could still be dangerous for your kid to pit into the piece, as it could damage their equipment. If the chocolate is frozen, it will be very hard and difficult to bite into, again, potentially damaging their teeth. Fun-sized or even normal-sized chocolate bars are great!
2. Cookies
Most neighborhoods have someone who passes out baked goods on Halloween. Most cookies are going to be fine, especially if they are soft. If, however, someone is giving out hard cookies, especially if they are store bought, you might be looking at damage to your teen’s braces. Just as with any hard food, a hard cookie could break off a bracket or bend the wire.
3. Apples
Apples are only going to be okay to eat if they are cut up into small slices first. Many areas have people who give out fresh apples or caramel apples on Halloween, both of which are probably okay to eat, if you carefully cut them into slices first. Don’t let your teen bite into an apple! Despite being great for you, apples are notoriously bad for braces. They can easily break off brackets, damage brackets, and bend wires. While this does require an extra step in order to enjoy the Halloween treat, apples can be a great alternative to all of the sugar that your teen would otherwise be consuming.
4. Hard candies
Hard candies can be both okay and very bad for braces. For example, if your teen does not chew on the hard candies or bite down on them in any way, they are probably going to be perfectly safe to eat. On the other hand, if your teen is just going to suck on the candy until it is gone, then hard candies don’t have to be off limits. Of course, this can be difficult to supervise, so you have to trust that your teen understands why it is not safe for her to chew hard candies.
5. Sticky candies
With hard candies off the table, your kid might be looking towards sticky candies for their sugar fix. Sticky candies, unfortunately, are totally off-limits for braces wearers. This means no tootsie rolls, no starbursts, no jelly beans, no gummies, and definitely no caramels. Sticky candies don’t just stick to your braces and become difficult to clean off. They can actually rip the brackets off of teeth, distort wires, and hurt your teen’s tender teeth and gums. Though most of these candies are soft, which should have made them perfectly fine to eat with braces, sticky candies are the worse for braces-wearers.
6. M&Ms and Skittles
What about candies like M&Ms and Skittles? Unfortunately, the small size of these candies makes them an enemy to braces. Even if you eat just one piece at a time, the candy can get under the wire and pop off a bracket when you bite down. The issue is worsened when your teen is eating handfuls of M&Ms or Skittles at a time. This is probably a candy that should be removed from their bag.
7. Popcorn
Is there someone on your block that hands out bags of popcorn or is your teen planning on popping a few big bowls of popcorn to enjoy during their scary movie? While popcorn might seem totally innocuous (it’s light and fluffy!) there are hidden hard pieces that can get under wires and into brackets. Plus, getting all of those popcorn pieces out from between your teeth is hard enough, even when you don’t have braces on your teeth. Popcorn, especially popcorn balls, are completely off limits this Halloween.
8. Toffee or brittle
Something that starts out hard and then becomes chewy as it warms up in your mouth would obviously be bad for braces. Keep in mind that your teen’s teeth are going to be very sensitive, which is going to make eating something hard or chewy very uncomfortable.
It might be disappointing for your teen to realize that most of the candy that they love can damage their braces. Luckily, there are a few ways that they can still get their sugar fix on this list. If they do go trick or treating, encourage them to trade candy with their friends so they can make sure that they get a few pieces that they can actually eat. You might even consider making a few special treats specifically with your teen’s braces in mind, so they have something to enjoy during this spooky season. Just remember to keep the sugar to a minimum. Even candy that is technically okay for braces can still give your teen cavities!
i wish i could eat all of these when i get braces:( at least my teeth will become healthy 🙂
I already have my braces on for about 2 years now. Not all of the candies ur able to eat, but at least/w braces on u won’t get any cavities.
Yeah you will. My mom had I friend that she worked with and her daughter had 18 cavities. They had to take off her braces then when they were fixed had to get them back on.
18??? Wow I’ve only had 3 and that’s when I was around 6-7
2 years so my braces will be on for that long?
not always, i’m having mine on for about 1.5 years or 2 years, though my friend has had them for 3
My friend had them 7 years
My friend has hers for 4 years
I got my about a week ago they said that I would have to have them for 3 years
Same
I got mine today,I have to have them on for 2 1/2years.
Depends. Could be 1 year, to 4 years. You might get them on twice. Personally, I was pretty lucky, only 1.5 yrs.
i have had mine for not 1/2 a year and i am already on elastics
Please could u tell me I’lk wise I could eat out of candy please
Actually u can get cavities even with braces because if you don’t brush your teeth and your eating food no of that food can get off your teeth so with braces you can’t have cavities but you can still get them so still take good care of those teeth.
Actually you will because while the braces are on teeth becomes harder to clean and as a result cavities actually form easier. Just have them on sooner so u can look forward to taking them off sooner too
hi there
Same I wish I can eat all of that candy but I will be able 2 in 2 years
Poop
SAme omg I just got mine 4 days ago
Same
I got mine yesturday
I just got my braces and I love jelly beans and I’m super sad cause I can only suck on them and throw them out 🙁
Can I still have warheads?
If you don’t bite them, you have to suck on them
those are hard candies so no
You can have them but you cant bite them.
Yes you can have them I have braces and I eat them but you can’t chew them only suck them then when your done sucking on it you spit it out but don’t eat a lot Bc your tounge will start to bleed Bc your tastebuds can’t handle a lot of sour so maybe 2 per day would be perfect!
I disagree with the starburst part. I have had braces for 6 months and have been eating starburst and I haven’t had a single problem with them.
Same but I’ve had mine for a year
YOU IDIOTS! HAVE YOU EVER BEEN A CHILD?
Why the fuck do you put an apple next to the girl with braces if people with braces cant bite into apples!BY THE WAY I EAT GUM ANYWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, my orthodontist said it was fine as long as it is sugar free!
Same here
Idiot…you can have apples although it is recommended they be cut up. Gum is also good (sugar free) anything else is on you if you want straight but stained teeth. It’s not easy getting that junk out of your braces. Also try some self control.
Did anyone eat everything they were not supposed to eat with braces?
If so, did your teeth get stained?
100%. I still have my braces on and I’m pretty fine. Just be careful and do not be stupid. Don’t test your limits with these candies either.
jeez no need to curse u know that kids also visit this website right?
me too lol my grandparents dont know tho….
ahhh
This article should be titled “What candy is NOT OK for braces” because at quick glance it looks like the numbered list answers the title question “What candy is OK for braces?”
But is there a way to eat popcorn!? Can you suck on it?
I don’t think you can suck on popcorn but I don’t see the problem with eating popcorn.
lmao you can’t really suck on popcorn. i have braces and i eat most of the stuff on this list, and i’ve only broken a bracket once haha and it was when i was eating taffy, so i think you’re fine to eat popcorn
Kernel shells used to always get stuck in my gums and polcorn is the worst thing to get stuck in your teeth
you can eat popcorn, just have to be careful with it. try breaking off the soft parts and eating those. if you ever come across a kernel, spit it out.
What type of candies can be good please tell me and thanks
Hershey Bars
Kit Kats
Resses PB Cups (regular not fun sized tiny ones)
THIN crunch bars (like the regular full size ones, I was told by my orthodontist when I had them these would not be an issue as long as they weren’t the thick fun size ones)
(Despite what the article says) REGULAR M&Ms are okay, even PB M&Ms should be fine, stay away from the ones with a hard, crunchy center
I also remember being able to eat 3 musketeers but pass this one by your orthodontist first.
Also YOU CAN have popcorn, you just have to be careful that you don’t bite into an unpopped cernal. You can’t have popcorn balls though since their sticky and thick and hard to bite into
Can I have Twix with my braces?
Can we eat gushers,haribo gummys, fruit by the foot, or trolli worms ?
Rece pieces and life savors if you don’t bite them and chocalete bars and idk
Thank you so much, I really like chocolate, so this is a relief for me that I can still eat it.
Wow, why are you people ranting. It is just candy. Like you can resist candy for some time. If you eat too much you could get diabetes anyway so its a good thing.
NO
Umm. You can delete that comment now.
I agree, but i will also miss butterfingers ?
Umm diabetes doesn’t even come from sugar. Maybe do some research first
Ouch, shots fired!
Type 2 diabetes can be caused by to much sugar. When your body doesn’t have enough insulin to process all the sugar you body is taking in. Therefor diabetes can be caused by an exes amount of sugar. Don’t try to disprove this because I have been around this my whole life. My dad has type one and my aunt and great grandma have type two. Maybe YOU should do your research and work on your grammar.
Damn bro charlie just got burned
Actually type 2 diabetes comes from excessive fat that builds up and blocks your body from dissolving sugar so it builds up and your body can’t process it so then you get diabetes but technically you can have all the sugar u want as long as you eat really well so everything you eat gets processed properly.
Damn
Can i eat sour patch kids with my braces
No
Yes I have braces and me and my cousin both eat gummy candy
Yes if u suck on them, no chewing.
you probably can, just be careful with them. i ate fruit snacks one time, and they didn’t get stuck. although sour patch kids are a bit more tougher than fruit snacks, they should be okay as long as you’re gentle with them.
can I eat chips
Yes… I just got my braces on 2 days ago so I just suck on them
it’s kind of funny how the answer to eating most foods with braces is to just suck on them haha
That’s what She Said
Or he said
You can eat certain chips. But you can’t eat doritos and chips like that. You can eat potato chips.
Bitch bro I need my Reese at least I can eat those
IKR
Eat soggy Reese puffs
Yes without reeses is not life
I need my Reese thank god
Yes me too
Reese’s are my fave
so glad I can eat them with my braces :))))
I’ve had them for about 6 mounts and have lost ten kilos and I’m so happy, fit and healthy
10kilos is not healthy
Did anyone eat everything they were not supposed to eat with braces?
If so, did your teeth get stained?
I ate some of the things that were “off limits” with my braces, the foods themselves did not stain my teeth, but my poor care of my equipment e.g not brushing thoroughly is what caused me to get a couple, small white Marks on my teeth, food will not permanently stain your teeth.
Can I eat lemons?
lemons are ok but brush=h your teeth after wards
can you eat all of these foods with an expander
Yeah pretty much
I had an expand and I didn’t have any restrictions
Well, why the girl has an apple near her braces is because they mostly state what is bad for your braces. So that’s exactly why!
You can eat braces as long as theyre cut up idiot
I didn’t know you could cut up and eat braces, what do they taste like?
HAHA THIS MADE ME LAUGH SO LOUD
0/10 would not recommend very flavorless and chip all of my teeth. Also cut up braces is STILL NOT GOOD FOR BRACES!! He lied.
Hmmm……………..
yeah I actually cut up some braces for lunch, they tasted like metal. 10/10 would not recommend bc it hurts to eat metal when you first get them on.
lol
i am getting my braces in two days. Is it alright if i eat some skittles but i suck on them???
Yes that’s fine, but if you accidentally bite down it coul damage your braces. Just be careful
Can I have crackers with braces?
You can cut them up so you don’t have to bite with your front teeth.
Can I eat pop rocks with my braces?
OH MY GOSH yes!! they are so yummy!!!
Omg I ate smarties, SMARTIES, and a bracket fell off! They aren’t even hard. I’ve also had a wire fall off because I ate BROCCOLI! I hate braces so much you can’t eat anything (healthy or not) I haven’t even had them on for a year and I’ve broken 2 brackets and broken my wire off (I follow almost every rule). Kms
i just got braces they hert
i just got braces they hurt
everybody has been a child btw.
Are people allowed to have peach rings with braces?
I just got braces almost a week ago and I Just suck on them until they’re soft enough and just swallow them
Sooooo…. what about twizzlers???
Well, just have them when your braces don’t hurt after they are tightened then just ya “light chews” 🙂 hoped this helped Stacy! – June 1, 2020 – 12:14
Can I still have Skittles? I know it says no, but I want to ask PEOPLE who had braces and still did.
I have braces, and my favorite candy is skittles. i eat them all the time, but not eating them right now since i just got my braces tightened. you have to be careful with skittles tho. but for me it hasn’t done any damage yet.
Is it ok if I suck on jelly beans?
Braces Hurt, and i dont even have my bottom ones on yet XD
I have had braces since July/August forgot when but I still eat everything normally. Example I still eat corn on the cob, non- cut up apples, peanut m&ms, chewy stuff…etc° but I never had an issue. So I’m saying as long as you have a technique of eating these items then it’ll do no harm, but also brush your teeth too like 2-3 times if you can’t control how much candy you eat, because you won’t want those spots.
yeah i eat gum
i have the full set again i already had braces before but now i have bars in my mouth does any one know if i can have popsicles
Can I eat rice crispy treats?
I dont see a big problem if you cut it up and chew in the back of your mouth
I’m going to get braces in a couple of days, can I eat red vines?
Can you eat smarties wit braces I just got mine like 4 weeks ago??
does airheads count as sticky candy>? is it ok to eat them?
I have had braces for 2 days and I’ll ash I though they were going to be fun but they hurt it doesn’t even hurt when they are putting them on it’s when their done it’s really sensitive but you will get use to it
Same I wish I can eat all of that candy but I will be able 2 in 2 years
This is all such a relief!!! I’m getting braced in a week and I eat a lot of candy, so I’m so glad I can still eat delicious foods! Also, does it make things harder with braces when you get an extra tooth removed? I have an extra bicuspid, and it’s going to be removed soon. Will that make the first few days of braces even worse than they were for my brother?
I can suck on a candy cane, right?
Can you eat candy canes
As long as you suck on it and not bite into it, make sure to brush thoroughly after. I would really recommend having sweets after meal times so you make sure to brush your teeth.
you think yall have it hard, my mum promised me a sweet platter on eid (mslim celabration) and i wont be even able to have any of those sweets because my dentist says im getting braces in 2 weeks
I got my braces before ramadan so it’s much easier eating. Though I have to brush right after iftaar and at suhoor.
I have braces and I eat gummies and starburst all the time
Do you all drink anything (besides water) with your trays in? I don’t drink a lot of dark colored liquids, but I do drink some colored teas and lemonades. I also will drink protein shakes. Are those okay to drink with trays in?
Also, is it better to drink out of a straw with Invisalign?
Can you eat the slime licker candy roller with braces
I licked a fruit roll up bc I was scared to eat it- is it okay for me to lick while I wear braces?
I just got my braces yesterday and it hurts whenever i try closing my mouth, whenever i do a resting face i have to keep my mouth slightly open, in addition if i try eating soft foods like they reccommend. Theres honestly no difference can someone please reccommend some type of medicine to ease pain please!!
Any normal type of painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen works
Hey I got braces like 2 days ago and it can be uncomfortable for the 1st few hours and hurts after but it is different for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend eating chewy candy as it will be annoying having to get brackets on again.
can you eat smores with braces?
Is Pocky safe to eat with braces?
Yes, but don’t bite with your front teeth. So I recommend breaking it up and chewing with your back teeth.
Can I eat ring pops?
Wait, so are lollipops, ring pops and stuff allowed for teeth with braces?