Getting braces is a big step toward a perfect smile! But it also means making some changes to your eating habits. What can I eat with braces? The good news is that you don’t have to give up all your favorite foods. However, you do need to be a little careful about what you eat to save your braces.
Some foods can get stuck in your brackets or wires, while others can cause them to break. But don’t worry! There are still plenty of delicious and safe foods you can enjoy. In this guide, we’ll go over the best foods to eat, what to avoid, and some easy braces diet ideas to keep you happy and healthy while wearing braces.
What Can You Eat with Braces?
Braces have wires and brackets that may trap food. So, you may experience damage to your braces if you eat carelessly. But it does not mean you cannot enjoy your favorite foods. You still can enjoy many tasty foods while wearing braces.
Here is a list of a few of the best foods to eat with braces.
Soft Breads
Bread is one of the best foods for braces. Usually, it is soft and okay with braces, but avoid bread with hard seeds or nuts. If you like chewy crust breads or bagels, it is better to cut them in pieces because small pieces are easily chewable.
Dairy Products
Dairy is a great choice because it’s soft and packed with nutrients that support strong teeth. You can enjoy cheese, milk, and yogurt without damaging your braces. Creamy yogurts and soft cheeses are especially good when your mouth feels sore after an adjustment.
Soft Grains
Grains are a favorite to many of us, but people think grains may stuck in braces. But do not worry; soft grains like oatmeal, pasta, and rice can be easily chewed. However, if you want some hard grains, you should soften them with yogurt and then eat them.
Protein-Rich Foods
Eating enough protein is important for keeping your body strong, and luckily, most protein-rich foods are friendly braces food. You can safely eat eggs, chicken, beef, tofu, fish, and pork as long as they’re cooked until tender. If you’re eating meat, consider cutting it into small bites to make it easier to chew.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are good and essential for a healthy diet, but some require extra preparation when you have braces. Hard foods like apples, carrots, and celery can put too much pressure on your brackets if you bite into them. Instead, try cooking them until soft or cutting them into small slices before eating.
Foods to Avoid When Wearing Braces
Braces are strong and durable but have small brackets and wires that may trap food. Certain foods can get stuck, bend wires, or even break brackets, making your treatment take longer. To keep your braces in great shape, it’s best to avoid certain foods to prevent trouble.
Here is the list of foods you should avoid to prevent your braces from being damaged.
Popcorn
Popcorn may seem harmless, but those tiny kernels can easily get stuck between your brackets and wires. Even worse, biting down on a hard, unpopped kernel can bend or break your braces. If you’re craving a crunchy snack, try soft alternatives like puffed corn or rice cakes instead.
Nuts
Nuts are hard and small, making them risky for braces. They can easily get wedged between brackets or cause a bracket to pop off if bitten into. If you love nuts, consider enjoying them in butter form; peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter are great alternatives.
Crunchy Snacks (Tortilla Chips & Hard Crackers)
Tortilla chips, hard crackers, and crunchy snacks can snap brackets off or bend wires when you bite them. If you still want something crunchy, try softer options like pita chips or lightly baked crackers.
Sticky Candies (Taffy, Caramel, and Chewy Treats)
Sticky candies like taffy, caramel, and gummy candies are a braces nightmare. They can get stuck to brackets and wires, making them difficult to remove. Plus, all that sugar can increase the risk of cavities and plaque buildup. If you have a sweet tooth, opt for chocolate that melts easily instead.
Corn on the Cob & Hard Fruits
Biting directly into corn on the cob or hard fruits like apples can put too much pressure on your braces, leading to damage. Instead, remove corn from the cob before eating and slice apples or pears into small pieces to enjoy them safely.
Sugary Foods & Drinks
Eating too much sugar can lead to plaque buildup around your brackets, increasing the risk of cavities. To keep your teeth healthy during your orthodontic treatment, try to limit sugary sodas, candies, and desserts.
Chewing Gum
Gum may seem harmless, but it can be one of the trickiest foods to deal with when you have braces. It can get stuck between brackets and wires, making it difficult to remove. If you love chewing gum, look for dentist-approved, sugar-free gum that won’t stick as much.
Essential Tips for Keeping Your Teeth and Braces Healthy
Once you have braces, you need extra teeth care to maintain good oral health. But do not worry – you can follow the tips below to easily maintain oral hygiene.
1. Brush Your Teeth the Right Way
Brushing is compulsory for everyone, but doing it correctly with braces is more important.
Start by brushing the gumline at a 45-degree angle. Make sure you clean the area where the gums meet the teeth. Then, angle the brush downward from the top of each bracket and upward from the bottom. Clean your teeth thoroughly to ensure each area of your teeth is clean.
2. Flossing is Key
Flossing is essential when you have braces because food can get stuck in them. Only flossing can help you to remove stuck particles of food. Gently move the floss up and down between each tooth to remove food and plaque. This may take a little longer, but it’s crucial for preventing cavities and keeping your gums healthy.
3. Change How You Eat Certain Foods
Having braces doesn’t mean you have to give up all your favorite foods. You can still enjoy them in many cases; you may need to eat them differently. For example, cutting hard fruits into smaller pieces or removing corn from the cob before eating. You can continue eating various foods while protecting your braces with a few adjustments.
4. Keep Up With Your Appointments
Don’t forget to keep your dental and orthodontist appointments. It is good to go on regular visits to ensure that your braces are adjusted properly. These visits are a key part of your overall oral care routine.
5. Follow a Solid Oral Care Routine at Home
At home, practicing good oral hygiene is necessary. Clean your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily. You can also use an antibacterial mouthwash to help keep your mouth clean. Your braces and your future smile will thank you for the extra care!
Where to Get Treatment If You Face a Problem with Braces?
If you have braces, you can experience problems from time to time due to various factors. In such situations, it is good to get help from expert dentists to fix issues quickly and immediately. It can extend your braces’s life.
If you have a problem, we recommend you get treatment from Diterich & Kelso Orthodontics. They provide excellent service for such cases. Their expert doctors, advanced techniques, and modern tools solve braces problems properly and quickly.
Final Words
Braces make your smile more attractive and improve your personality. It is a costly investment that needs care. However, its care is not restricted to only oral hygiene; you should also be careful when eating meals.
You can eat many nutritious and tasty soft food for braces, such as bread, soft grains, dairy products, protein-rich foods, and fruits and vegetables. However, you should avoid foods such as popcorn, nuts, crunchy snacks, sticky candies, and chewing foods.