Every sweet tooth brace-wearer worries that their favorite chocolate could be banished by their dentist. If you’re reading this article, then you’re probably a big lover of the M&Ms, and you’re wondering if they, too, have been prohibited by the man who fitted those shiny brackets between your teeth. Well, today I’m going to give you the answer…..sadly I don’t think you’re going to like it.
So, can you eat M&Ms with braces? You shouldn’t eat M&Ms with braces as their outer shell is too hard to chew. The added pressure put on your braces by chewing such a hard piece of chocolate can cause them to dislodge and pop off. Additionally, bits of shell could get stuck under your wiring and cause your braces to pop off that way instead.
Either way, the damage caused by M&Ms could mean your braces need refitting!
You want to avoid that at all costs.
But there may be a way still consume them. So keep reading for my tip and suggestion if you feel you really can’t go on without them for the next 2/3/4 years!
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Why Shouldn’t You Eat M&Ms With Braces
You shouldn’t eat M&Ms with braces as they pose a significant threat of damage. This is due to their hard outer shells.
Certain chocolates simply aren’t suitable for eating when you have braces.
These chocolates are normally ones that are hard and chewy and therefore difficult for your teeth to get through.
This difficulty results in an intense amount of pressure being placed on your braces, possibly causing them to pop off.
Why’s that bad?
Well, you can’t just pop them back on yourself.
Instead, you’ll have to go back to the dentist to have your braces refitted, which means you’ll end up having to wear them for even longer than was originally planned.
The other threat these ‘prohibited’ chocolates pose is that of them getting stuck or wedged in-between your brackets.
Due to their texture, these bits of chocolate are harder to clean out from your braces.
If they are then left there, excess sugar and bacteria will accumulate, leading to tooth decay.
Sadly, M&Ms are guilty of both crimes here.
Their shell is simply too hard for your braces to endure without the risk of damage occurring.
Their small size also means they can be a sneaky, unwelcome guest that helps themselves a place wedged in your brackets.
So I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but M&Ms are the definitive example of chocolate you should avoid when wearing braces.
How You May Be Able To Eat M&Ms With Braces?
You may be able to eat M&Ms if you stick to the plain ones. You’ll also have to ensure you thoroughly clean your teeth free of any lodged M&Ms.
Some people argue that the soft milk chocolate interior means M&Ms are suitable for eating with braces.
But what they forget is that hard-outer shell that is what poses the actual risks to our braces.
That being said, some M&Ms are worse than others.
For example, the M&Ms with nuts, like the Peanut Butter ones, are a big no-no as the changes of their tough texture inflicting damage on your braces is much higher than with the standard M&Ms.
So, if you must eat M&Ms with braces, stick to the plainer, softer ones.
One trick you could try is sucking on your M&M for a bit to make the shell softer. This will hopefully lessen the pressure put on your teeth and braces when you decide to crunch down on that shell.
It goes without saying that you must brush your teeth after eating any M&Ms, just like with any other chocolate.
Brush your teeth 30 minutes after eating so that your teeth’s enamel can return to its normal hard state after it has been softened by the acids in the chocolate.
Brushing your teeth might not get the trick done on its own.
Instead, you might have to get the dental floss out.
Tie a knot in the string and carefully use this to dislodge any bits of M&M that have decided to set up camp in your brackets.
Oh, and only eat M&Ms during meal times!
Other Chocolates To Eat With Braces Instead
I know all of this must be very hard for you to take. But there is hope. Not all chocolates are to be avoided until your braces come off.
There are many that are, as I like to call them, brace-friendly.
These chocolates are usually ones that are soft, non-chewy, non-sticky, and totally without nuts or other hard toppings.
So these are the ones to look out for.
Now, if you are a chocolate lover, I’m assuming you love others besides M&Ms.
So take a look at this list below.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to find some of your other favorites that have been given the green light.
- Soft chocolate (as long as there’s no caramel or nuts inside!)
- Dark Chocolate
- 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
Alas, it might be best for you to depart from M&Ms for a while during your brace-wearing days.
You can choose to take the risk and stick by your favorite chocolate treat.
But if things go wrong, it will be a trip back to the orthodontist!
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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.