Written by the Diamond Braces clinical team · Updated October 29, 2026
Yes, you can still eat some candy with braces. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) says softer, melt-in-your-mouth candies tend to be less risky, and that you should avoid sticky candy and anything with kernels that can get stuck. In practice that means plain soft chocolate is a better choice than caramel, taffy, gummies, licorice, hard candy or popcorn. Brush well afterward, and call your orthodontist if a bracket comes loose.
Why Some Candy Is a Problem With Braces
Sticky, chewy and hard candies can pull on brackets or bend wires. The AAO notes that broken brackets need a trip to the orthodontist for repair, and multiple broken brackets can extend your time in braces.
The sugar matters too. The AAO warns that candy left around braces can lead to permanent white marks (decalcification), cavities or gum disease, and that sugary drinks such as soda, sweet tea, energy drinks and sports drinks cause the same white marks.
Candy You Can Eat With Braces
Choose candy that is soft and melts easily, without caramel, nuts or crunchy pieces. Examples:
- Plain milk chocolate, broken into small pieces
- Peanut butter cups and other soft chocolate without nuts or caramel
- Chocolate with a soft filling such as mousse or marshmallow
- Melt-in-your-mouth chocolates, eaten slowly rather than bitten hard
Even soft candy is best as an occasional treat, followed by brushing.
Candy to Avoid With Braces
- Sticky and chewy: caramel, toffee, taffy, gummies, jelly beans, licorice and similar chews
- Hard: hard candy and lollipops (biting them can break a bracket)
- Kernels and nuts: popcorn, popcorn balls and nut-filled chocolate
- Gum: skip it unless your orthodontist says otherwise (see can you chew gum with braces)
For snacks beyond candy, see popcorn with braces and chips with braces.
Halloween and Other Candy Holidays
Sort the bag when you get home: keep the soft chocolate, set aside the caramels, chews, hard candy and anything with nuts or popcorn. Eat treats with a meal rather than grazing all day, and brush afterward.
How to Protect Your Teeth After Eating Candy
The AAO's tips for braces patients:
- Brush for two minutes, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste that carries the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance, and brush thoroughly around your braces after sugary snacks.
- Floss at least once a day.
- Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash.
- Consider an electric toothbrush, which the AAO notes has been shown to remove more plaque than a manual one.
If you find a bracket that's no longer attached, the AAO advises calling your orthodontist as soon as possible so the repair doesn't delay treatment.
Can You Eat Candy With Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are removable, and Invisalign says there are no food restrictions during treatment because you take the aligners out to eat. Don't eat candy with your aligners in. Take them out, and clean your teeth before you put them back so sugar isn't held against your enamel. Your orthodontist will tell you how long to wear them each day; Invisalign says it's typically 20 to 22 hours.
Candy With Braces: Quick Answers
Can kids with braces eat M&Ms? Plain chocolate candies can be eaten carefully, letting them soften first. Skip peanut and other nut-filled varieties.
Are Kit Kats OK with braces? Break them into small pieces and avoid biting down hard; the wafer is crisp.
Are Skittles OK with braces? No. They're chewy and sticky, the type of candy the AAO says to avoid.
Are Oreos OK with braces? Hard, crunchy cookies are a risk. A soft cookie without nuts is the better choice.
Find a Diamond Braces office near you if a bracket or wire breaks or you have questions about what you can eat.
Sources
- American Association of Orthodontists, What Candy Can You Eat with Braces? (candy to avoid, softer candies, decalcification, broken brackets, brushing, flossing, fluoride, electric toothbrush)
- Invisalign.com, Frequently Asked Questions (no food restrictions with removable aligners; 20 to 22 hours a day)
