Sugar-Crushed: The Candy Children Can Eat With Braces

Everyone loves candy. Whether it is sugar, sour, spice or everything nice, everyone enjoys at least one type of candy. However, when a child gets braces, it can feel as if the child wears chains on his or her teeth that deny all forms of sugary sweets. It can be easy for a child to focus on all of the varieties of candy and sweets that he or she cannot eat with braces. Fortunately, braces are not the invincible restricting chains that children believe them to be.

Focus on the positives

There is no doubt that people in America love sugar. Sugarscience.org states that Americans consume about 66 pounds of added sugar per person, each year. Sugar is in nearly everything one can purchase on a shelf. There are so many variations on favorite styles of candy that people need time to think when choosing a treat. While wearing braces, one may struggle with the diet restrictions.

Although the diet challenges are worth it for healthy and straight teeth that braces can help one achieve, it is not easy to avoid favorite foods with braces. Candy can be incredibly harmful and dangerous for braces including caramel, gum, nuts, hard candies (Jolly Ranchers, certain mints, Warheads, etc.), chewy candy (Starburst, Skittles, Gummy bears, etc.), taffy and more. However, instead of focusing on the negatives, here are a few candies that one can eat, even with braces.

Melts in your mouth: Chocolate

As long as it does not include almonds, caramel or some other extremely gooey substance, chocolate is not immediately harmful to braces. As long as the chocolate is not hard to bite on, the braces should be alright. This delicious pastime of candy is a good choice for the child with braces in need of a sweet treat.

“But Mom, they’re just butter mints”

Buttermints are a soft type of mint that dissolve easily and do not require one to bite down or chew on them. Hard candies like lollipops or Jolly Ranchers may not be harmful if a child does not bite down on them, but hard candies still pose a dangerous risk. If a parent feels the child is too young to avoid biting down on the hard candy, it is best to stay away from that specific candy.

“C” is for cookie – which a child with braces can eat

Okay, this one is not technically a candy, but is a delicious snack. No child will resist the allure of a soft chocolate chip cookie. The best part: there are chewy and soft versions of cookies available for the child to choose. If you or your child has braces and is in need of something sweet, a cookie may be one of the best ways to go.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream

Again, another choice that is not candy but just as good of a substitute. Ice cream is one of the most well-known and common desserts. With a variety of flavors and forms, a child with braces has plenty to choose. There are even healthy options available for a child to consume.

While it can be difficult to forgo the delicious sweets of one’s childhood, damaging braces can lead to intense pain and a prolonged duration of having to wear the braces. That is why a person with braces needs to think before he or she eats candy. There are also numerous other treats that are sweet, delicious and safe for a child with braces to eat.

Explore additional oral health topics covered on our website:

• Common Problems with Braces
• Orthodontics Sterling, VA
• Orthodontics for Adults
• Types of Braces

Titan Dental Care

At Titan Dental Care in Sterling, we will customize your treatment to match your needs and schedule. Our professional staff creates a calm atmosphere for you during the appointment and treatment process. We will identify any dental issues you are struggling with and find the best solution.

Our staff will create a calm and comforting atmosphere at the office to ease patients into the procedure. We can help prevent damage to your teeth and set you on track for a lifetime of pristine oral health. At Titan Dental Care, your dental health is our prime concern.

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