When the holiday season arrives, it brings with it plenty of festive treats. From Halloween candy and Thanksgiving desserts to Christmas stockings and New Year’s celebrations, sweets are often a huge part of celebrations. But if your child has braces, not every holiday candy is a good choice.
Certain sweets can stick to brackets, bend wires, or even break orthodontic appliances. Others can contribute to plaque buildup and tooth decay when they remain around braces for extended periods.
Fortunately, having braces doesn’t mean your child has to miss out. With a little planning, children can enjoy the holidays without compromising their smile or their orthodontic treatment.
Why Does Candy Matter When You Have Braces?
Braces contain brackets, wires, bands, and other components that can be damaged by certain foods. Hard, sticky, crunchy, and chewy holiday candy can put excessive pressure on these components or become trapped around them.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends sticking to soft foods during orthodontic treatment because they won’t damage brackets and wires.
Sugary foods can also contribute to plaque buildup around brackets, increasing the risk of cavities and white spots on the teeth if your child doesn’t maintain good oral hygiene.
Holiday Candy Kids with Braces Should Avoid
When sorting through your child’s holiday candy, you should remove the following treats:
Caramels — While caramels are soft, they can still damage braces. Their sticky texture can cling to brackets and wires and put stress on orthodontic appliances.
Taffy — Taffy is a classic holiday candy to avoid with braces. Its chewy texture can cling to brackets and wires and leave behind a sticky residue.
Gummy Candies — Gummy bears, gummy worms, fruit chews, and similar candies can get stuck around brackets and between teeth. The AAO specifically recommends avoiding gummy and other sticky candies during orthodontic treatment.
Hard Candies — Hard candies and mints often require prolonged sucking or biting. Biting down on a hard piece of candy, especially repeatedly, can damage a bracket or wire.
Lollipops — Lollipops present several concerns. They are hard, remain the mouth for an extended period, and contain sugar. Orthodontic professionals recommend avoiding suckers while wearing braces.
Licorice — Chewy licorice can stick to braces and be difficult to clean from around brackets. It’s best to leave it off the holiday treat list.
Candy with Nuts or Hard Pieces — Candies containing hard nuts or crunchy pieces can put additional pressure on brackets. Nuts themselves are also commonly listed among foods to avoid during orthodontic treatment.
What Candy Can Kids with Braces Eat?
Fortunately, there are still some treats for children with braces to enjoy this holiday season.
Soft Chocolate — Plain, soft chocolate is generally easier on braces than hard or sticky candy. Choose chocolate without hard nuts, caramel, toffee, or other chewy additions.
Soft Chocolate Bars — Chocolate bars often melt easily in the mouth, minimizing damage to your braces. Choose bars that don’t contain sticky or crunchy ingredients like peppermint patties, peanut butter cups, or plain M&Ms.
Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt — Ice cream melts easily and can even reduce inflammation and soothe any soreness that can come with wearing braces, especially the first week or after adjustments.
Remember that “braces-friendly” doesn’t mean unlimited. Candy still contains sugar, so parents should ensure their child practices portion control and has good oral hygiene.
How Can Kids Enjoy Holiday Candy More Safely?
During the holidays, children with braces should choose soft candies over hard ones, keep portions small, cut large treats into smaller pieces, skip sticky and chewing ingredients, drink plenty of water, and brush and floss carefully.
What If a Bracket Breaks After Eating Candy?
Even if your child is careful with holiday treats, orthodontic problems can still happen. If your child notices they have a loose or broken bracket, a poking wire, or another issue with their braces, contact their orthodontist for guidance.
Do not try to remove or repair orthodontic components at home unless your child’s orthodontist specifically instructs you to do so.
Make the Holidays Braces-Friendly
Having braces doesn’t mean your child has to miss out on holiday candy. The key is to choose treats carefully and avoid foods that are hard, sticky, chewy, or crunchy.
Soft chocolate and other appropriate treats allow children to participate in holiday celebrations without worrying about damaging their smile or braces.
If you’re unsure whether a particular holiday candy is safe for your child’s braces, ask their orthodontist. A little preparation can help protect their treatment and keep everything on track throughout the holiday season.
