Having braces doesn't mean giving up your favorite meals. A few simple changes protect your brackets and wires from damage and help keep your teeth healthy during treatment.
Most foods are fine. The ones to avoid are hard, sticky, very chewy or high in sugar. At Plymouth Orthodontics, we'll give you a full list when your braces go on.
| Food Group | Enjoy | Skip or Prep Carefully |
|---|---|---|
| Snacks | Yogurt, cheese, soft crackers | Popcorn, nuts, hard pretzels |
| Fruits & Veggies | Bananas, berries, cooked veggies | Whole apples and raw carrots (slice them thin instead) |
| Breads & Grains | Soft bread, pasta, rice, pancakes | Hard rolls, bagels, crusty bread |
| Treats | Ice cream, soft cookies, pudding | Caramel, taffy, gum, hard candy |
| Drinks | Water and milk | Soda, sports drinks and sweet juices |
Many favorite foods can still be enjoyed with a little prep. Cut apples, carrots and crusty bread into small, bite-size pieces, and slice corn off the cob. Chew with your back teeth instead of biting into foods with your front teeth.
Even with careful eating, a bracket or wire can come loose. If that happens, don't worry. Call our office so we can schedule a quick repair. Keeping your braces in good shape keeps treatment on track. For cleaning tips, see How to Care for Braces.
Plenty! Good choices include pasta, rice, eggs, soft breads, yogurt, cheese, soups, fish, tender chicken, steamed vegetables, bananas, berries and smoothies.
Cut firmer foods into small, bite-sized pieces and chew with your back teeth.
Hard foods like nuts, ice and hard candy can bend wires and pop brackets off. Sticky and chewy foods like caramel, taffy and gum cling to braces, pull on brackets and trap sugar against your teeth. Broken brackets mean extra visits and can add time to treatment.
Try string cheese, yogurt cups, applesauce, bananas, soft muffins, crackers that melt easily, hummus with soft pita, or sliced soft fruit. Pack a travel toothbrush or remind your child to rinse with water after eating.
Yes, with a little prep. Slice apples and carrots into thin, bite-sized pieces instead of biting into them, and cut corn off the cob. That way you can still enjoy them without damaging your braces.
They're best kept to a minimum. Sugar and acid wear on enamel and can leave white spots around brackets. Water is the best choice. If you do have a sugary or acidic drink, use a straw and rinse with water afterward.
Stick with soft, easy foods while your teeth adjust, such as mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs, soup, oatmeal, yogurt and smoothies. Most people are back to their usual braces-friendly foods within a few days.
