Foods to Eat & Avoid With Braces

Life with braces is an adjustment but worth it when you achieve a perfect smile. That smile is yours forever, but in the meantime, there are some ways to make sure everything goes smoothly. By sticking to these general rules, you can ensure treatment is faster, more convenient, and comfortable.

Today’s modern braces are sleeker, more discreet, comfortable, and efficient. Now, you can get fantastic results in much less time than in the past. Plus, the “metal-mouth” look is no longer a problem with clear ceramic braces options. Also, lingual braces are hidden behind the teeth, making it the most discreet choice, even more than Invisalign.

Let’s get right to the foods best avoided. In some cases, they can be cut up into smaller pieces, such as carrots or apples. However, biting into sticky, hard, crunchy, or chewy foods can be a problem.

Unfortunately, such foods can get stuck in the brackets and loosen wires. Thus, you may need an emergency visit that can be inconvenient and adds needless expense. Not to mention, it can slow down progress.

As always, the idea is to get the best results in the least amount of time.

Some foods can be irritating to your mouth in the days after first getting your braces. Foods that are tougher to chew can irritate your mouth as your teeth adjust to braces. Later, they can be added back into your diet if you like.

Foods to avoid at least temporarily:

• Spicy foods
• Citrus foods
• Thick cuts of meat
• Heavier, thick bread and rolls that aren’t soft

Ice cream: Many times, people with new braces enjoy ice cream to help with discomfort and swelling. For others, there may be some time of more sensitivity to cold. Thus, you may want to wait a while and avoid ice cream. Always avoid ice cream that contains nuts or sticky candy toppings. These can stick to wires and brackets.

Some foods can stain brackets, particularly clear ones. Some foods that could stain braces:

• Beets
• Curry
• Berries
• Currants
• Grape juice

Popular beverages like coffee and tea can also stain braces. So, be sure to rinse with water or mouthwash after if possible. When wearing braces, it’s important to clean after each meal.

• Ice
• Nuts
• Chips
• Popcorn
• Hard tacos
• Chewing gum
• Hard crackers
• Corn on the cob
• Hard or sticky candy
• Apples, carrots, hard veggies
• Sugary drinks, sodas, excess sweets
• Tough bread like bagels, pretzels, or pizza crust

As you wear braces, it’s a little trickier to clean your teeth. By avoiding foods like these, you can help avoid the potential for tooth decay.

Of course, you don’t want to feel punished, so an occasional sweet treat is welcome. Just limit those treats to a few times a week if you can.

Fortunately, there are lots of yummy options so you can enjoy a well-balanced, delicious diet. Before partaking of a particular food, consider if it is soft and easier to chew.

Some delicious options to consider:

• Soups
• Seafood
• Soft fruit
• Pancakes
• Muffins
• Puddings
• Soft bread
• Soft cheese
• Cooked rice
• Milkshakes
• Cooked pasta
• Oats and grains
• Soft wraps and tortillas
• Cooked and soft veggies
• Soft desserts and cakes

As you can see, there are lots of great choices. Over time, you’ll adjust and automatically know which foods to avoid and which ones are your go-to favorites.

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Source: “Foods to Eat with Braces,” Bracesetters Orthodontics