Understanding why and how eating candy when you have braces will affect your chances of completing a successful orthodontic treatment—which ultimately affects the health of your teeth and gums in the long run—will hopefully help diminish your cravings for sweet treats while you have braces, and hopefully beyond your orthodontic treatment as well.
Candy comes in a number of different forms, but it’s all the same when you consider eating candy with braces. From hard, mint-like candies, to sticky toffee and gooey chocolate bars, candy does a number on your braces, regardless of its form.
When you bite into a hard or sticky piece of candy without braces, your tooth is stressed by the force it takes to break down and chew the piece of candy.
With braces on your teeth, biting into a hard piece of candy will put additional force onto the bracket or band attachment, along with the tooth.
More often than not, the bracket or band will succumb to the force it takes to eat the candy, and they will break or pop off. When a bracket or band becomes loose, your orthodontic treatment comes to a screeching halt until you are able to see your orthodontist have the problem repaired. For most patients, a loose band or bracket will set their treatment back one to two months.
Enjoying a piece of candy is not worth the pain and anguish that comes with these hard-to-resist treats, but there are alternatives to candy that can help to satisfy your sweet tooth while being friendly to your teeth.
It is generally okay to enjoy something sweet from time to time because let’s face it, sweets are a part of life. If you find yourself craving something sweet, put down the candy and consider baking or preparing something sweet from a braces-friendly recipe book.
Once your sweet tooth has finally been put to rest, always ensure that you brush and floss immediately after consuming sugar.