You’ve just had braces fitted. Or perhaps your child has instead. So many important questions run through your head. The most troubling of all, even if you’re ashamed to admit it, concerns whether or not you can now eat chocolate. I know I’m right. Why? Because I’ve been there myself. So, don’t worry. Today, I’m going to provide you with all the answers you need on this very important topic!
So, can you eat chocolate with braces? You can eat chocolate with braces, but there are some good practices to follow to ensure you do not experience pain or cause damage to your braces. You should avoid sticky, nutty, and hard chocolates, and eating lower-sugar chocolate is advised too.
If you follow these rules while eating chocolate, then the potential risk of brace damage will be much lower.
And as a result, there won’t be any telling-offs at the orthodontist’s!
Oh, and your teeth should be straighter too, there is that!
Contents
What Happens If I Eat Chocolate With Braces?
As chocolate can be high in sugar, sticky, hard, nutty, or all of those at the same time, it can break and damage your braces, prolonging the time you have to wear them. The risk of this occurring is high so long as you continue to eat lots of chocolates with those characteristics mentioned.
The high levels of sugar contained inside chocolate mean that even those who don’t wear braces are at risk of potential decay and gum disease.
If you have braces, there’s double trouble as such decay, and gum disease can harm the progress your braces have been working on towards improving the condition and aesthetic of your teeth.
This could mean you have to have your braces refitted, meaning you’re only going to have to wear them for longer than was previously planned.
And nobody wants that…..do they?
Other times the braces can break are when you don’t follow those golden rules I mentioned above.
If, for example, you eat a piece of chocolate that contains nuts, the hardness in the texture could put such pressure on your braces that they break!
Not only that, but they can get stuck in your braces, which is damaging as well.
The same goes for sticky or hard chocolates.
You seriously run the risk of damaging your braces here, so please be careful unless you are planning on wearing braces for life.
We’ll get into what chocolate is safer to eat in a minute.
Before that, it’s key to mention what you should do if you accidentally (or disobediently, you naughty sticky, nutty, hard, sugary chocolate lover) break those key ‘musts’ I listed earlier.
So, If any chocolate gets stuck in your braces, carefully brush your set of choppers. You could even floss them if you’re having any trouble.
What Chocolate Is Safe For Braces?
Chocolate that is safe to cheat with braces is soft, non-chewy, low in sugar, and without nuts.
Of course, everything must always be consumed in moderation.
If you eat softer chocolates, then the risk of causing damage to your braces is significantly reduced.
That being said, if you stuff your mouth with as much soft chocolate as you can, then there’s still a risk, especially to decay, gum disease, and plaque.
All of which will reverse the positive effects your braces are put in place to achieve.
So what are these special, brace-friendly chocolates?
Well, it’s not just what chocolates you eat, but it’s also how you eat them.
For example, if you have braces, you should never eat chocolates straight out of the fridge as they’ll still be too hard and could break or dislodge your braces as a consequence.
It’s also important to only eat chocolate during meal time.
And as we’ve already seen, it is vital that you clean your teeth after consuming any chocolate.
You can make your own decisions as to whether or not a specific chocolate brand or type is safe for eating with braces.
Just remember what characteristics you need to look for.
Nevertheless, here’s a list of some chocolates that get the green light from me:
- Kit Kat
- Dark Chocolate
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Wispa
- Maltesers
- Mars
- Hershey’s Kisses
- Aero
- Twix
- Flake
- Twirl
- Galaxy
- MilkyWay
- Bounty
What Chocolate Should You Not Eat With Braces?
You should avoid chocolates that have high sugar content and are sticky, hard, or nutty in texture. This is so that your braces are left to work their magic without the unwelcome appearance of these specific types of chocolates.
Once again, you can decide for yourself whether that piece of chocolate staring seductively back at you from the shelf is an appropriate treat to indulge in whilst you wear your braces.
Remember the rules, and you should be fine.
Just to help you out, I’ve compiled a list of some of the chocolates you should definitely avoid during your brace-wearing years.
Sorry if your favorite treat is here, but trust me, if you’re patient, the wait will be worth it as you’ll be able to devour that long-lost chocolatey friend with your new, healthy set of teeth.
- Tootsie Rolls
- Baby Ruth
- Smarties
- 100 Grand Bars
- Snickers
- Munchies
- Daim
- Double Decker
- Picnic
- Yorkie
- Crunchie
- Toffee Crisp
- Chomp
- M&Ms
Alternatives To Chocolate If You Have Braces
Yes, I know you especially love chocolate. But there are alternatives out there. These safe substitutes for your favorite chocolate bar are suitable because they are soft and easy on your teeth.
This doesn’t mean that chocolate doesn’t have to be entirely absent.
Instead, we just need chocolate to enter our mouths in a form that appeases our braces.
You can get creative here; for example, you can cover your favorite pieces of fruit in chocolate.
That way, you’re reducing the risk of damage to your braces whilst also satisfying your sweet tooth, and if that’s not enough, you’re working towards your five-a-day as well.
When using chocolate to sweeten up your substitutes, dark chocolate would be my recommendation.
It’s lower in sugar but has also been shown in some studies to effectively combat plaque, cavities, and tooth decay.
How could that be true when other chocolates do the exact opposite?
Well, although it is part of the chocolate family, dark chocolate possesses antibacterial compounds.
So, there’s a much lesser chance of excess sugar and bacteria building up in your teeth, meaning your braces are much less likely to break.
Below is a list of some more alternatives you can enjoy:
- Chocolate Milk
- Chocolate-Covered Fruit
- Chocolate-flavored lollipops (don’t chew, just suck!)
- Chocolate flavored Ice Cream
- Soft Cookies (such as Oreos dipped in milk),
- Jell-O
- Pancakes
- Yogurt
- Smoothies
One that may defy the odds is cotton candy. It recrystallizes and goes hard when eatne, so avoid that too!
But if you want more suggestions, just ask your dentist when you next see them.
I’m sure they’ve got plenty of ideas when it comes to replacing chocolate for the duration of your brace-wearing days.
Finally
Whilst you may have to distance yourself from your favorite chocolate brand, there are many suitable alternatives to satisfy your sweet tooth in the meantime.
Dark chocolate is an underestimated delight.
Just remember! NEVER overindulge, and ALWAYS clean your teeth after your braces teeth take a trip down chocolate lane.
Related Questions
Can I drink chocolate milk with braces
You can drink chocolate milk with braces. Although due to the high sugar content it is typically best consumed in moderation and less frequently. If you could brush your teeth shortly after drinking that would be best.
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Hello, I’m Matthew, a candy expert and enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the candy industry. My passion for candy started at a very young age. Since then, I have worked in numerous, large candy stores, and have been fortunate enough to try out hundreds of brands of candies, different types and flavors. In addition to my work, I enjoy sharing my extensive knowledge with others, and decided to create Sugar Stand in order to do so. My mission is to make the world a sweeter place, one candy at a time.