Whether you have brand new braces or this is just your first Halloween with braces, you need to know what Halloween candy is safe to eat. Determining what Halloween candy you can eat with braces is more about simply thinking before you stuff something in your mouth. But, of course, this discussion begins with what NOT to eat.
The Importance of Avoiding Sticky, Icky, Chewy Stuff
Although you may have already had this talk with your doctor or the technician, we’re going to do a bit of repeating because it’s important. Your braces are pretty strong. They can move your teeth into new positions to straighten your smile. At the same time, they are somewhat fragile.
The reason that you have a list of foods to avoid is to keep from damaging the wires and brackets of your braces. Sticky, chewy stuff can loosen your brackets or get stuck in your wires. Hard foods and candy can break the thin wires. Any damage to the hardware can potentially lengthen your treatment. Nobody wants that, right?
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The other problem with sweets is that sugary items can add to tooth decay. Especially with braces, it is very important to maintain great oral hygiene practices.
With all that said, the easiest way to determine if candy or food is safe to eat with braces is to start with a question. Simply ask yourself, “Will eating this damage or loosen my braces, or get stuck and be difficult to remove?” If the answer is yes, that is something that should be avoided.
Hard Halloween Candy MIGHT Be OK… Sort Of
Dum-Dum suckers are a Halloween favorite. If you normally eat them by biting them, we would request that you avoid them. If you normally suck on them to the finish without chewing or biting, they are somewhat safer.
This is only the plain Dum-Dums. You should still avoid Tootsie pops or any other type of sucker containing a caramel or gum center. While the sucker portion may be OK, the inside is not.
So, the word on hard candies is — please limit them, and only MELT them in your mouth. No chewing, biting or crunching them.
Other Halloween Candy to Avoid
In some instances, when we mention a specific brand, it also means everything similar to that type of candy. Brach’s caramels and Kraft caramels will cause the same problems. So if we mention Laffy Taffy, that means all taffy-type candy including those awful (supposedly) peanut butter things in the orange and black wax wrappers.
Remember to ask yourself the question, “Will eating this damage or loosen my braces, or get stuck and be difficult to remove?” before eating any candy. Adding the types of candy mentioned below to your list of things to avoid will help.
Chewy candy, which includes caramels, taffy, Starburst, and all chewing gums. This category also includes things like jelly beans, licorice, chewy Spree, and gumdrops. These can stick to your braces and wires. They may cause your brackets to become loose. They are also very difficult to clean off your teeth and braces.
Nuts, popcorn balls, caramel apples, and candied apples should be avoided. Go grab some cider and a donut (you can eat all the donuts!) and watch people without braces attempt to pluck floating apples from the tub of despair.
You should avoid any hard candy that has a chewy center. Sour candies may be a favorite, but they normally have a high acidic content which can cause damage to the enamel on your teeth. Jolly Ranchers should be avoided too.
You should also avoid crunchy candy or items that contain nuts. This means that Snickers and Almond Joy are off the list, but 3 Musketeers and Mounds bars are fair game.
So… What Type of Halloween Candy Can You Eat with Braces?
You can eat anything that can be melted in your mouth or is soft enough to chew, such as cookies, cakes, and pies. Although not all candy, there are still plenty of selections for you.
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Remember to think before tossing candy in your mouth. If there is the potential for damage to your hardware, don’t eat it.
Chocolate — You Can Eat ALL the Chocolate!
Perhaps the best news is that you can eat almost all the chocolate. You will need to avoid bars and chocolate candies that include caramel centers, crunchy nuts, crunchy bits, toffee centers, and some of the harder cookie-type bars.
Although it may seem restrictive, you can have Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, 3 Musketeers, KitKat bars, plain chocolate bars, and Hershey Kisses. You can also eat plain M&Ms, any chocolate bar without nuts or caramel, Snow Caps, and even Nestle Crunch Bars.
Not Candy, but Don’t Forget the Cider Donuts!
You can eat ALL the donuts, although sharing is nice too. Cider donuts and apple cider are always a favorite around Halloween. Even though you have to avoid caramel apples during the orchard trip, you can have apple pie, pumpkin pie, donuts, and soft cookies. Don’t forget the ice cream and the whipped cream!
Want to sneak a caramel apple? Although you can’t eat it right off the stick, you can peel an apple and cut it into small slices. Dipping it into caramel will allow you the same flavor experience without the potential for damaging your braces.
When in Doubt, Trade It Out
What if you went out trick or treating and got a lot of candy you can’t eat with braces? We recommend arranging trading parties with friends and family.
Sort your candy and offer to trade the things you can’t have for things that you can indulge in. You might be surprised how many of your friends are willing to help you out, even if it means giving up their good stuff.
Still Not Sure? Give it a Thought
When you aren’t sure about a type of candy, remember the question. If it will cause damage to your braces, it is best to avoid it.
If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Dr. Bob Bryan Orthodontics. Our staff is always happy to assist you in making the right choices about Halloween candy with braces.
Hamburg office — (610) 562-5185
Allentown office — (610) 435-2788
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