Foods to avoid eating with braces
Last time, you read that it may take your cheeks 2 weeks to get used to the new braces.
Broken braces will also cause irritation.
So today we will talk about what you can do to prevent your braces from breaking by eating braces-friendly foods.
Here's a list of foods we call "Braces Breakers":
Chewy foods (anything that can “pull” braces off)
- Gum
- Taffy
- Caramel
- Gummy bears
- Swedish fish
- Starburst
- Tootsie Pops
- Pizza crust
Hard foods (anything that can “crack” braces off)
- Ice Cubes
- Bones
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Pretzels
- Hard Granola
Awkward foods to bite into:
- Whole apples (just cut them in slices)
- Pizza crust (use a knife and fork)
- Corn on the cob (cut from the corn)
- Raw carrots (cook them or cut into thin strips)
Here are some braces-friendly foods that our patients enjoy:
- Pasta
- Soft steamed vegetables
- Seafood
- Cut up chicken, meatballs, lunch meat, etc.
- Eggs
- Soft fruits - oranges, kiwi, etc.
- Dairy products - yogurt, ice cream, soft cheeses
- Soft bread - pancakes, tortillas, muffins
Your teeth are probably starting to feel better if you made it through the first 4 days. You may even feel adventurous to start chewing normally. As you start chewing normally, be careful with certain foods because some foods can loosen or break your braces.
Your braces hold onto your teeth reasonably well. But when we remove braces, they need to release easily from the tooth without enamel damage.
That means that some caution is needed to avoid breaking braces during treatment.
Preventing breakage is easy with the right food selection.
Next up, you will see what to do if something breaks.