Living with braces doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your favorite foods or missing out on delicious meals. While it’s true that certain foods can pose a risk to your braces, there are plenty of tasty alternatives to satisfy your cravings. At Hanis & Proft Orthodontics, we understand that knowing what foods may damage your braces might be tricky. Let’s dive into our guide on what foods to avoid after getting braces!
Why Should You Avoid Certain Foods?
Crunchy, sticky, chewy, and hard foods can really do a lot of damage to your braces. These foods have a tendency to get lodged in your braces, leading to broken brackets or wires. This not only makes your treatment time longer but can also be uncomfortable. We want to ensure that you achieve that beautiful smile as smoothly as possible!
Tooth decay is another concern when it comes to eating certain foods with braces. Sticky or chewy foods tend to stick to your brackets or hide between your teeth, making little food particles difficult to remove. These lingering pieces of food can breed bacteria, potentially causing cavities and bad breath.
Specific Foods to Avoid
Remember that sticky, crunchy, hard, and chewy foods are always going to be the hardest on your braces. It’s impossible for us to list every single food that might cause damage, so be sure to use your best judgment. But to get you started, here’s a list of foods to steer clear of:
- Licorice
- Bagels
- Carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
- Whole apples (you can cut them into slices!)
- Corn on the cob
- Hard potato chips
- Carmel candies
- Gum
- Hard pretzels
- Ice (enjoy it in drinks, but avoid chewing it)
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Hard candy
- Taffy
The Best Foods for Braces
Contrary to popular belief, braces don’t limit you to just mushy foods. In fact, the key is to choose easy-to-chew options that are less likely to damage your braces and easier to clean from your teeth. The sky’s the limit when it comes to selecting what to eat during your orthodontic journey. Feel free to experiment with new dishes and expand your culinary horizons. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Soft cheese
- Pudding
- Tortillas
- Muffins (without nuts)
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Sliced lunch meat and cheese sandwiches
- Mac and cheese
- Egg salad, chicken salad, or pasta salad
- Soup
- Salmon
- Crab cakes
- Soft fruits like bananas, grapes, and mandarin oranges
- Softly cooked veggies or fruits
- Pastas
- Salads
- Pancakes or waffles
- Cooked rice
- Ice cream
- milkshakes
- Soft cake
Your Role in Achieving a Beautiful Smile
Dr. Hanis and Dr. Proft believe that achieving a beautiful new smile is a team effort! By avoiding problematic foods and following your orthodontist’s instructions, you contribute to the success of your new smile. Our team knows that making some changes to your diet may be difficult, especially at first. But remember, that you won’t have to avoid foods forever! Staying away from sticky, crunchy, chewy, hard foods will pay off when you see your new stunning smile!
