Freeze drying is a popular preservation technique that allows food to stay good for a remarkably long time.
Besides the extended shelf life, freeze dried candy is also becoming increasingly popular for its enjoyable texture that melts in the mouth. But can you eat freeze dried candy if you’re wearing braces?
In this guide, I’ll walk you through a brief guide that answers this question along with helpful tips to enjoy freeze dried candy while maintaining your dental health. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Is Freeze Dried Candy Bad for Braces?
Freeze dried candy is made by removing the moisture content inside the candy. As a result, those treats look quite similar to a regular candy, but they have different texture and structural integrity due to the lack of internal moisture.
As a general rule, freeze dried candy is considered safer for people with braces than regular candy, especially when consumed in moderation.
This is because the concerns about eating candy with braces include:
- Hardness: Biting into hard candies like Starburst other hand candy puts excessive pressure on braces, potentially dislodging the brackets or connecting wires.
- Stickiness: Even if the candy aren’t hard and quite chewy, they can still leave sticky residue that gets stuck to braces and can cause various dental problems, such as decalcification, plaque buildup, and cavities.
Luckily, after freeze drying, candies become quite brittle and don’t stick as hard to braces as regular candy, all while providing a unique experience.
That being said, freeze dried candy still has the same amount of sugar content, so it can still cause tooth decay if you consume them in large quantities.
6 Tips for Eating Freeze Dried Candy with Braces
Now that you know more about freeze dried candy and their effect on your corrective braces, here are some additional tips to help you enjoy those treats while staying safe.
1 – Consume in Moderation
As long as you’re not eating too much freeze dried candy, you should mostly be alright. After all, freeze dried candy still has plenty of sugar, so they can still cause problems if you eat too much of them.
2 – Let the Candies Melt in Your Mouth
One of the main advantages freeze dried candy has over regular varieties is that unique feel where they start melting in your mouth as soon as they touch your tongue.
For that reason, try to savor the candy (especially sour ones) by sucking on them instead of crushing them right away. This reduces the stress on your dental brackets.
3 – Choose the Right Candy for You
Similar to regular candy, different freeze dried candies also have unique characteristics. This is mainly because each type has a specific moisture percentage, so they behave differently when freeze dried.
As a general rule, you should go for the varieties that crumble right away as you bite into them, as they have minimal impact on braces.
4 – Take Small, Slow Bites
Even fluffy and crumbly candy can be too much if you pop large ones directly in your mouth. Instead, you should stick to smaller, manageable pieces because they’re easy to bite into and let you control the pressure of your bite to avoid harming your braces.
5 – Brush Your Teeth After
As previously established, freeze-dried candy is much better for your braces than regular candy, but it still has loads of sugar that can harm your teeth.
For that reason, always brush your teeth after eating sweet candy to remove any remains that can cause plaque buildup and tooth decay.
6 – Consider Healthier Alternatives
Lastly, if you’re simply looking for a sweet treat that won’t harm your braces, you can opt for healthier alternatives with little to no impact on your dental brackets.
These include chocolate, marshmallows, peanut butter, etc. The best thing about these candies is that they’re also slightly healthier than candies and typically contain less sugar.
Final Thoughts
This wraps it up for today’s guide that walks you through the effects of freeze dried candy on braces.
As you can see, freeze dried candy is generally safer than regular candy because they’re fluffier and quite crumbly.
Remember to always follow orthodontic guidelines and schedule regular checkups with your dentist to maintain the integrity of your braces.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.