If you’re one of the millions of people who wear braces, you know how hard it can be to keep your teeth clean and avoid foods that can damage your braces. But why should someone with braces stay away from certain foods? And just what are these foods? Do you know what food you can’t eat with braces?
When you or your child gets braces, it’s essential to know which foods to avoid to prevent damage and additional trips to the orthodontist. Braces are quite fragile and susceptible to damage from foods that are hard, sticky, or chewy. Eating the wrong things can not only lead to broken brackets or wires but can also extend the time needed for treatment and lead to unexpected costs for repairs or replacements. So, to keep your orthodontic journey on track, it’s best to avoid certain foods.
Sticky and Chewy Foods
Let’s talk about sticky and chewy foods, which are some of the hardest foods for people with braces to eat. We’ve all been there: a bit of sweet caramel or chewy gum gets our attention. But these things are bad for your braces, which is sad.
It makes sense that people with braces shouldn’t eat chewy or sticky foods. These things could get stuck between your braces’ wires and clips, making it hard to get rid of them. Plaque builds up on teeth or braces when food gets stuck there. This can cause tooth loss and/or gum disease, which is gross. Furthermore, sticky foods can pull on your braces, which could cause them to loosen or even break.
So, what kinds of chewy and sticky things should you stay away from? At the top of the list are gum, sweets, taffy, caramels, and toffees. Even healthy foods, like dried fruits, which are high in natural carbs and can be sticky, should be eaten in moderation.
You can satisfy your sweet tooth with many other foods that won’t hurt your braces. Instead of chewy candies, you could eat soft fruits like bananas or berries, or you could choose a bit of chocolate that melts in your mouth.
By avoiding sticky and chewy foods, you can keep your teeth healthy and beautiful without taking extra risks.
Hard and Crunchy Foods
Let’s talk about another type of food that is hard for people with braces: foods that are hard and crunchy. Even though these foods might taste good as a snack, they can really hurt your orthodontic treatment.
What’s wrong with things that are tough and crunchy? In the first place, these kinds of things can put a lot of stress on your braces. If you bite down on something too hard, the clamps or wires may bend or even break. Your healing from treatment may be slowed down and hurt by this. As well, if a bracket or wire breaks, it can be painful until you can see your dentist to fix it.
Okay, if you have braces, these are the main crunchy and hard foods you should stay away from: ice, popcorn, nuts, and hard sweets. It can be hard to bite into nuts, and they can put a lot of pressure on your braces. Popcorn, on the other hand, is known for getting stuck in your teeth and braces. It’s best not to eat hard candy when you have braces on, even though we all love it.
Use cucumber or carrot slices or pita chips if you want something crunchy. If you want something sweet, skip the hard candies and get a drink or a bowl of ice cream.
Remember that taking care of your braces is very important if you want your dental treatment to go as planned. Staying away from rough and crunchy foods will keep your smile in great shape and keep it from getting worse.
Foods That Require Biting into or Pulling with Teeth
When you have braces, one of the hardest groups of things to eat is anything that you have to bite into or pull apart with your teeth. Even though these foods might not seem dangerous, they can be very bad for your braces.
Foods that you have to bite into or pull apart with your teeth can damage or remove the brackets and wires. When you bite down on something hard or pull on your braces with your teeth, you put a lot of stress on them. This can hurt, damage the brackets or wires, or even make you feel terrible.
So, what kinds of things should you stay away from? In fact, apples, corn on the cob, whole carrots, and other foods that you have to bite down on or pull apart with your teeth are often to blame. These foods can easily hurt your braces, so you should stay away from them.
You might be thinking what leaves are good to eat. Choose fruits and veggies that are softer, like bananas, avocados, and steamed broccoli, because they are better for your braces. You can also eat your favorite hard foods cooked, like baked nuts instead of whole nuts or steamed corn instead of corn on the cob.
Remember that taking care of your braces is very important for making sure that your treatment goes quickly and easily. You can keep your smile looking great by staying away from things that you have to bite into or pull apart with your teeth. Pay attention to what you eat and choose foods that are lighter and easier to chew. Your teeth and braces will thank you!
Other Food You Can’t Eat with Braces
If you have braces, you should avoid foods that you have to bite into or pull apart with your teeth. You should also avoid foods that are sticky and chewy, hard and crunchy. But do you know that you should also stay away from other foods?!
Starting with drinks that are high in sugar. Some drinks, like soda, sports drinks, and juice, are fun to drink, but the sugar in them can damage your teeth. Also, drinking these drinks through a straw can make your teeth look yellow. Sugary drinks should only be drunk in small amounts, or better yet, water should be drunk instead.
Ice is the next thing. If you chew on ice, it might look safe, but it can damage your braces. The cold could make your clamps and wires shrink, which could make them come loose or even break. You can also chip your teeth when you crack ice. Stop chewing on ice if you do it often.
The last problem is when they chew on pencils or pens. It might seem like an innocent habit, but it can really hurt your braces. When you chew on pens or pencils, you put pressure on your teeth, which makes it more likely that your bands will break or come loose. Furthermore, chewing on things other than food can also make your mouth full of harmful germs.
Tips for Eating with Braces
As someone who has braces, you know how hard it can be to eat sometimes. Don’t worry; there are lots of easy and fun ways to make mealtimes better. Here are some tips on how to eat while having braces on:
Break up your food into small pieces. This will make it easier to chew and less likely to get stuck in your braces. You can also enjoy your food for longer when you eat smaller amounts.
If you don’t want sugary or acidic drinks to get on your teeth or braces, drink through a straw. In this way, the risk of tooth decay and staining can be smaller.
Don’t use your teeth to open items. It might be tempting to use your teeth to open a bag of chips or a candy box, but doing so could damage your braces or even your teeth. Use a pair of scissors or another tool to open packages instead.
Hard, sticky, or chewy foods can damage your braces and make them harder to clean. Stick to soft, chewy foods instead. Pick foods that are soft and won’t get stuck in or drag on your braces’ wires and clips.
The most important piece of dental health advice is to brush your teeth right after each meal. Brush your teeth after every meal to get rid of plaque and food particles. This will keep your braces clean and shiny. Always be careful when you brush your teeth, and use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Do not forget to floss. It might be a little harder to do this while wearing braces, but it is still important to do so. For best results, use flossing tools made especially for braces or ask your orthodontist how to do it right.
Foods You Can Enjoy
However, it’s not all about restrictions. There are plenty of foods you can still enjoy that are safe for braces. Soft fruits and vegetables, thoroughly cooked grains, pasta, and dairy products are all braces-safe choices. These foods help maintain a balanced diet without risking damage to your braces.
Focus on the Positive
While it might be tempting to mourn the loss of some of your favorite snacks, it’s better to focus on the many healthy and delicious options still available to you. Enjoying braces-friendly foods not only contributes to a smoother orthodontic treatment but also helps ensure that you’re nourishing your body well during this important period of dental correction.
Embracing these dietary adjustments is a key part of the process toward achieving that perfect smile. By understanding what to avoid and focusing on what you can eat, you can navigate the treatment period with fewer complications and more enjoyment.
Final Thoughts on Foods You Can’t Eat With Braces
- Sticky and chewy foods can get lodged in your braces and cause damage, so it’s best to avoid them.
- Hard and crunchy foods can also be risky for braces, as they can cause brackets and wires to break.
- Foods that require biting into or pulling with teeth, like apples or corn on the cob, should also be avoided.
- Other foods to avoid include sugary drinks, ice, and chewing on pens or pencils.
Read my latest Insider Mama blog post Braces-Friendly Food: Food You Can Eat with Braces for additional information on what you can eat while wearing braces!
