Foods to Avoid
While on your journey to a beautiful smile with braces, it's essential to be mindful of the foods you eat to avoid damaging the wires or brackets and to ensure optimal oral hygiene. Here's a breakdown of what to avoid and what you can enjoy during your orthodontic treatment.
Foods to Avoid with Braces:
Popcorn
Popcorn hulls can get stuck under braces, causing inflammation and swelling of the gums. If you must have popcorn, choose “hulless” popcorn, but keep in mind that even this type still has some hulls, just smaller and softer.
Acidic beverages
Drinks like sodas (including diet sodas), sports drinks, energy drinks, and lemonade can erode the enamel on your teeth, especially around the brackets, potentially leaving permanent white spots. The acid in these drinks weakens enamel and invites bacteria to create cavities.
Sticky candy
Avoid caramel, taffy, gummy bears, and other sticky candies as they can coat your teeth with sugar and even pull off brackets.
Hard candy
Hard candy can break brackets or bend wires, and the sugar can lead to plaque buildup around the braces, making cleaning difficult.
Hard foods and chewy foods
Foods like bagels, hard rolls, pizza crust, hard nuts, and thick pretzels can bend wires or pop off brackets. Even fruits and vegetables that require biting with the front teeth (e.g., apples, carrots, and corn on the cob) can cause damage. To avoid this, slice or cut these foods into smaller pieces, or cook vegetables to soften them.
Ice cubes
Chewing on ice can damage your braces, breaking brackets or wires. It’s best to avoid this habit altogether.
Foods You Can Safely Eat with Braces:
Thankfully, there are plenty of delicious and braces-friendly options to enjoy:
- Smoothies
Soft, cold, and nutritious, smoothies are perfect for soothing any discomfort from braces adjustments while providing essential nutrients. - Soups and Chili
Soft and easy to eat, soups and chili are excellent choices for a warm meal. - Dairy Products
Soft cheeses, yogurt, and milk are safe to enjoy and provide essential calcium for strong teeth. - Soft Fruits
Bananas, strawberries, applesauce, and other soft fruits are braces-friendly and nutritious. Just avoid biting into whole apples—slice them instead! - Oatmeal
Soft and easy on braces, oatmeal is a great breakfast or snack option. - Eggs
Scrambled, boiled, or poached eggs are soft and protein-rich. - Tuna, Baked Fish, Meatloaf, and Tofu
These soft proteins are gentle on your braces and a great way to ensure you’re still getting enough protein in your diet - Potatoes
Mashed, baked, or sweet potatoes are filling and easy on the braces. - Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
As long as the bread is soft and the peanut butter isn’t chunky, this classic sandwich is safe to enjoy. - Pasta Dishes
Soft pasta dishes like mac 'n' cheese, ravioli, and spaghetti are easy to chew and braces-friendly. - Thin Crackers and Cookies
Soft, light crackers or cookies can be enjoyed in moderation, as long as they aren’t too hard or crunchy.
General Rule:
Stick to soft foods and avoid anything hard, sticky, chewy, sugary, or acidic to protect your braces and your teeth. If you're ever unsure about a food, feel free to ask your orthodontist for guidance!
By following these guidelines, you can keep your braces in great shape and ensure your smile journey stays on track.