Foods To avoid with Braces can drastically improve your teeth, but it can take days or weeks to adjust to the extra pressure on your teeth. You may also feel some pain or irritation around your teeth and gums during the first few days.
But if you talk with anyone who’s had braces, the hardest adjustment might be giving up some of the foods you love. Certain foods are off-limits while wearing braces, because they can become stuck in the braces and damage them.
Here’s a look at some of the best and worst foods to eat with braces, as well as what to do if you damage your braces.
Foods you can’t eat with braces
Crunchy and sticky foods such as nuts and bubble gum, hard candies like lollipops and candy canes can loosen brackets and wires which may cause delays in treatment. Foods to avoid with your braces are:
- Nuts
- Potato chips
- Popcorn
- Crunchy veggies
- Hard candies (such as jolly ranchers or lollipops)
- Gum (Sugar-free gum is okay)
- Sticky candies (like laffy-taffy or gummy bears)
- Corn on the cob
- Apples
- Beef jerky
- Pizza crust
It’s not just hard foods can break the appliances in your mouth! Other items and habits to avoid that could damage brackets are:
- Pen chewing
- Pencil chewing
- Nail biting
- Toothpicks
- Straw Chewing
It is important to not chew on any hard objects!
Foods that you can eat with braces
Now that you know what you can’t have with braces, we can talk about all the good things that you can have! Though there are many things that must be avoided with braces, there are many yummy things that can still be enjoyed. For example, you can still enjoy:
- Pastas
- Mashed potatoes
- Meats with no bones
- Soft veggies
- Fruits
- Soups
- Dairy products
- Soft breads and sandwiches
- Casseroles
- Pizza (without the crust)
At Amrita Medical Center, our staff is happy to answer any of your questions and help you decide the right fit for you. We even offer same day appointments for your convenience. Contact us here!