Easter is coming up fast! Enjoying Easter with braces might seem hard at first, but we will go over everything you need to know so that you can celebrate it without worry about your braces.
We will also give you some great candy-free ideas of how you can celebrate Easter with your family!
Candy to Avoid
As your orthodontist, we are obligated to say that you should avoid all candy, but we know that’s not very fun and not realistic! However, some candies will not be very fun to eat with your braces and could damage them or hurt you.
Candy that is hard or chewy can cause some severe problems and damage your braces, not to mention it will be tough to clean!
Here are the Candies What to Avoid:
- Caramels
- Taffy
- Hard candy
- Chewy candy (like Starbursts)
- Jellybeans
- Licorice
- Gum
- Suckers
- Sour candy
- Kettle corn (and any type of popcorn)
- Candy with nuts
That list gives you some examples, but it is by no means a complete list. A basic rule you can follow is to avoid candy or foods that have a tendency to get stuck in your teeth or are hard to chew.
Braces-Friendly Candy
Luckily, there are still candies that should not cause any damage to your braces or cause unnecessary trips to the orthodontist.
Candy and sweets that are soft or melt in your mouth should be no problem for your braces but remember that they’re still not great for your teeth, so make sure to brush afterwards!
Here are some candy ideas that you can safely enjoy with braces:
- KitKat
- Chocolate (without nuts or caramel)
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Junior Mints
- York Peppermint Patties
- Hershey’s Kisses
- 3 Musketeers Bars
- Marshmallows
Easter Ideas
Now that we have covered candy, we want to give you some other good ideas for Easter that will be better for your teeth in general!
- Easter egg hunt – Traditionally, an Easter egg hunt involves finding candy, but you could make it a search for all kinds of things. Instead of finding candy, make it a hunt for an iTunes gift card, or maybe a treasure hunt for a new toy.
- Custom Easter baskets – If you have a budding artist in your family, include paintbrushes, paints, a new sketchbook, or pencils in their Easter basket. If you have a soon-to-be scientist, then get them a science experiment kit. These gifts will be healthier and be enjoyed for a longer time than candy.
- Egg and Spoon Race – This good old-fashioned outdoor game that dates all the way back to the late 1800s. All you need are hard-boiled eggs and metal or wooden spoons for each participant. Race individually or relay-style. Have a winner prize but it’s also a good idea to have consolation prizes for everyone who participates.
- Easter Bunny Corn Hole – This classic outdoor game has been around since the 14th century! Grab some cardboard, markers, and scissors to create a DIY hungry bunny for your game of bean bag toss! Cutouts can be located where his mouth and tummy are to ensure that he gets his fill this holiday too.
- Go on a family trip – Do you have a beach you’ve wanted to go to or a hiking trail you want to trek? Easter is the perfect time to get out there and do fun activities for you and the whole family.
Final Words
We care about you and want you to be able to enjoy the holiday without fear of damaging your braces.
By following this guide on what candy to avoid, you and your family can have a fantastic time!
Happy Easter!
Dr. David McDonough
McDonough Orthodontics