Candy & Braces Do Not Mix

Its October and you know what that means!! Halloween is coming up and we love to receive candy or go trick or treaty. But the question is can I eat candy while I have braces on ? There are many foods you can and can’t eat with braces, but eating candy when you have braces is specifically not recommended for a number of reasons. Understanding why and how eating candy when you have braces will hurt your chances of having successful orthodontic treatment, thus affecting the health of your teeth and gums in the long run, will hopefully help diminish your cravings for sweet treats while you have braces; and hopefully beyond your orthodontic treatment as well. Candy can be found in a number of different forms, but it’s really all the same when you consider eating candy with braces. From hard mint-type candies, to sticky toffee and gooey chocolate bars, candy does mass amounts of damage to your braces, regardless of what form it comes in.

When you bite into a hard or sticky piece of candy without braces, your tooth is stressed by the force it takes to break down and chew the piece of candy.

With braces or your teeth, biting into a hard piece of candy will put additional force onto the bracket or band attachment, along with the tooth. More often than not, the bracket or band will succumb to the force it takes to eat the candy, and they will break or “pop” off. When a bracket or band becomes loose, your orthodontic treatment comes to a screeching halt until you are able to see your dentist or orthodontist to have he problem repaired. For most patients, a loose band or bracket will set their treatment back one to two monthswpid-worst-candy-for-braces_19828121

Enjoying a piece of candy is not worth the pain and anguish that comes with these hard-to-resist treats, but there are alternatives to candy that can help to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying friendly to your teeth. It is generally okay to enjoy something sweet from time-to-time because let’s face it, sweets are a part of life. If you find yourself really craving something sweet to eat, put down the candy and consider baking or preparing something sweet from a braces-friendly recipe book. Once your sweet tooth has finally been put to rest, always ensure that you are brushing and flossing immediately after consuming sugars.

http://dentistry.about.com/od/orthodontics/f/Can-I-Eat-Candy-With-Braces.htm