Ah, the Jelly Bean. One of the oldest pieces of candy known to man, with the day of its creation dating back to the mid-19th century. They’re not quite as old as braces, but the two have been coexisting on this planet for quite some time now. You could say there has been plenty of testing on whether or not the two could coexist in the same human mouth. And yes, you’d be right – testing has been done. So, let’s take a look at the results!
So, can you eat jelly beans with braces? You shouldn’t eat jelly Beans with braces as they are sticky, hard, and high in sugar. These three key characteristics mean that a jelly bean, when placed between a set of teeth that wears braces, can cause tooth decay and brace damage.
Of course, you can still eat them, as you possess free will.
However, the risks of tooth decay and brace damage are certainly higher compared to other candy.
So you probably shouldn’t, as we shall explore below.
But there are some ways you still may be able to do so if you are particularly fond of them and want to get your fix.
So keep reading; it may mean you still get to eat them!
Contents
Why Shouldn’t You Eat Jelly Beans With Braces?
You shouldn’t eat jelly beans with braces as they pose a high threat of causing damage to your braces as well as tooth decay. This risk is there because jelly beans are hard yet sticky and chewy. They are also high in sugar.
Sadly, your brace-wearing days will be limiting.
That’s because, in order for your braces to work their magic, by straightening your teeth and enhancing your smile, they have to be left relatively undisturbed.
How would you disturb them in the first place? By shoving food in your mouth that is unsuitable when you have braces.
In terms of texture, candy that is hard, chewy, and sticky should be avoided. This is because it is more difficult for your teeth to get through.
This difficulty is not good because the pressure put on your teeth when you bite into the hard, chewy, and sticky jelly bean is also put on your braces, which could be so immense that your brackets pop off.
Every time your brackets pop off, you have to pop back to the orthodontist to have them refitted.
This means you’ll have to wear your braces for longer than was originally planned.
The other problem with jelly beans is that once you crush their hard shell with your teeth, they become sticky and chewy to eat.
Why is this a problem?
Well, because they are sticky and chewy, they can easily get stuck or wedged in-between your brackets.
Not only this, but they are also very difficult to then clean out from your teeth and brackets once they have gotten stuck up there.
So, if you have bits of jelly bean left in your brackets, then, seeing as they are high in sugar content, they will build up an excess of sugary bacteria.
The result is not pretty. It’s TOOTH DECAY!
Which will be very inconvenient for the development of your teeth and will be painful too!
Sadly, jelly beans just pose too much of a threat to brace wearers as their texture and high sugar content mean brace damage and tooth decay are likely possibilities.
How You May Be Able To Eat Jelly Beans With Braces
You may be able to eat jelly beans with braces if you find a way to soften them, moderate consumption, and ensure your teeth and brackets are completely free of any jelly bean residue.
Limit Consumption
Too much of anything is bad for you, as my Grandma always used to say. This is even more so when you’re wearing braces.
The more sugar you subject your teeth and brackets to, the more excess sugar and bacteria there will be, meaning there will be more of a risk of tooth decay and cavities.
Drink Water After
Take a big drink of water after eating jelly beans to rinse the excess sugar out of your mouth.
Eat Around Mealtime (If Possible)
The safest time to eat jelly beans or any sugar candy treat, for that matter, is when you are eating other food as well.
So, try to stick to eating jelly beans around mealtime.
Modify The Texture
As I mentioned earlier, a big part of the problem with eating jelly beans with braces is their hard texture.
So, if you soften them, then you reduce the risk of brace damage this problem poses.
How do we do this? Well, you could start by sucking the jelly bean in your mouth until it softens.
You could also place them in a bowl of water for a couple of minutes!
But fundamentally, you mustn’t leave them in the fridge as that is where they will actually become even harder.
Dental Hygiene
Perhaps the most vital measure you can take in maintaining your dental hygiene after eating any amount of jelly beans.
After eating jelly beans, wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth so that you allow your teeth’s enamel to return to its normal hard state after the sugary acids have softened it.
Make sure all bits of jelly bean is cleaned completely from your brackets and teeth.
If a toothbrush doesn’t suffice, then you may need to get the dental floss out.
Tie a knot in the floss’ string and carefully use this to remove any bits of jelly bean that have got stuck up there.
Alternatives To Jelly Beans To Eat With Braces
I have provided you with the facts. Now, the decision is yours to make.
If you decide that you simply can’t resist not tucking into a jelly bean for the time you wear braces, then go for it!
What candy you put in your mouth is all up to you. Unless you’re a young child reading this, then it’s probably best if you let your parents judge what is safest for your teeth and braces.
But if you don’t want to take the risk with jelly beans during this time, don’t worry! There are plenty of alternatives to choose from.
When looking at the candy treats on the store shelves, identify the ones that are soft, less sticky, less chewy, and low in sugar.
These are the characteristics to look out for when replacing your favorite candy with a brace-friendly substitute.
Here’s a list to get you started:
- Dark Chocolate
- Soft Cookies (like Oreos)
- Hershey’s Kisses
- Peep’s Candy
- Dove
- York and Junior Mints
- Maltesers
- Twix
- Wispa
- Nestles Crunch
- Andes Chocolate
- Hershey’s Cookies & Cream bars
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Reese’s Sticks
- Mallo-Cups
- Smarties
- Soft or Chewy Sweet-tarts
- White Chocolate Bars
- Aero
- Peppermint Patties
- Cadbury Eggs (as long as you break into pieces first)
- Three Musketeers
- Flake
- Twirl
- Galaxy
- MilkyWay
- Bounty
Finally
To jelly bean, or not to jelly bean, that is for you to decide.
If you decide to jelly bean, then please, do so with caution and take the necessary precautionary measures to ensure safe eating.
If you decide not to jelly bean, don’t worry, there is still plenty of candy out there for you to safely enjoy!
Related Guides
- What Candy Can You Eat With Braces?
- Best Candy For Braces • The 5 That Are Safe To Eat! •
- Can You Eat Chocolate With Braces?
- Can You Eat Cotton Candy With Braces?
- Can You Eat Marshmallow With Braces
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.