Do you know what you can and can’t eat with braces? Having braces doesn’t mean that you will be eating pureed, bland foods during the entire course of treatment. Luckily, there still many foods that you can enjoy. Knowing what foods you can and can’t eat with your braces will help you achieve the optimum results. It is important to prevent damage to the archwires, bands, and brackets as well as keeping your teeth free from tooth decay during your treatment.
You should avoid these foods, as they can cause damage to your braces, and prolong your treatment:
- Caramel and gooey chocolate bars
- Very sticky or chunky peanut butter
- Hard candies
- Nuts
- Chewy candy, taffy, and gummy bears
- Popcorn with kernels
Also avoid biting into hard foods with your front teeth. Cut or break up hard foods such as:
- Raw vegetables
- Croutons
- French/Italian bread
- Fruit
- Hard rolls
- Thin crust pizza
- Meat
- Burgers
- Sub sandwiches
- Corn on the cob
In addition, don’t chew on any hard items such as ice, pens, pencils, or fingernails.
A small list of foods that are recommend during orthodontic treatment include:
- Hulless popcorn
- Bananas
- Yogurt
- Light crackers or cookies
- Cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Melons
- Grapes
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Ravioli
- Macaroni and cheese
You may also like The Braces Cookbook, which offers recipes to make you, your kids and orthodontist all happy. On days when mouths are particularly sore, The Braces Cookbook clearly identifies foods that work best on “extra-tender teeth days.” Be-Nice-To-Me-Beverages are welcome at any time. There’s also a section with comfort tips, suggestions for eating out and braces-friendly website resources.
