This time, we’re looking at foods to eat with braces. When you begin orthodontic treatment, there are foods to avoid. By doing so, you can ensure you maintain top oral health throughout treatment.
Since braces remain attached to teeth, it’s necessary to be mindful of foods that can damage them. Fortunately, there are lots of delicious options. Plus, you can treat yourself too. So, it’s not so bad, and before you know it, you’ll have a perfect smile.
Once the braces come off, it’ll all be worth it, and you can enjoy any foods you temporarily missed!
First: Know Which Food to Avoid
To begin, if you’re unsure about which foods are safe, consider if they fall into one of the following categories:
- Hard
- Sticky
- Chewy
- Crunchy
Thus, if an item falls into one of these categories, it’s probably best avoided. Or, in some cases, you can cook the raw food or cut it into small pieces. Then, you can safely enjoy it. For example, apples and carrots are relatively hard. However, cooked or chopped, you don’t have to worry about damaging your braces.
Delicious Foods to Eat with Braces
Below, we’ve listed a sampling of foods to eat with braces. As you can, they’re soft. Plus, they don’t contain hard, sticky, chewy, or crunchy bits that can get stuck in brackets or loosen archwires.
- Soups
- Yogurt
- Seafood
- Soft fruit
- Pancakes
- Muffins
- Puddings
- Soft bread
- Soft cheese
- Cooked rice
- Milkshakes
- Cooked pasta
- Oatmeal and grains
- Scrambled eggs
- Soft wraps and tortillas
- Cooked and soft veggies
- Soft desserts and cakes
As you can see, there are plenty of delicious choices while you wear braces. Even better, you can enjoy a dessert on occasion. Just be sure to rinse, brush, and floss afterward.
Got a sweet tooth? The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends soft treats for the holidays like Halloween and Christmas.
For additional suggestions, there are lots of great recipes online for those who wear braces. Pinterest can help you find new recipes. Also, Palo Alto Orthodontics shares ideas on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
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Common Sense: Avoid Sugary Foods and Drinks
As common sense tells us, it’s always a good idea to limit foods and drinks. However, this is particularly true while wearing braces or Invisalign. Therefore, try to avoid sodas, including diet sodas, energy drinks, and sugary fruit juices.
Some Foods Could Stain Braces and Aligners
One big reason we love clear braces is due to the discreet appearance. However, some foods could leave a stain if you eat or drink them frequently. Then, your braces may appear discolored.
Here are a few of the usual suspects:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Red Wine
- Beets
- Curry
- Currants
- Mustard
- Tomatoes
- Grape Juice
- Berries
- Soy sauce
- Grape juice
- Balsamic vinegar
- Some food colorings
Therefore, if you have clear ceramic braces, it’s a good idea to limit or avoid foods like these. With Invisalign, you can take out the aligners to eat and drink, so it’s not as problematic. That’s particularly important if foods or drinks are hot since they can warp the aligners.
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Foods to Avoid Right After You Get Braces
For a week or so after you get your braces, your teeth and gums can be more sensitive than usual. During this time, it’s a good idea to avoid foods like these:
- Tough or crusty bread
- Citrus and spicy foods can be irritating
- Cuts of meat that are harder to chew
- Ice cream if your teeth are sensitive to cold
Notably, some people are unusually cold-sensitive for a time. So, they might want to avoid ice cream and frozen yogurt, at least until they adjust to braces.
Which Foods to Avoid
As we mentioned, foods that are hard, sticky, chewy, and crunchy are best avoided. Therefore, watch out for foods like the following:
- Ice
- Nuts
- Chips
- Popcorn
- Hard tacos
- Jawbreakers
- Chewing gum
- Hard crackers
- Corn on the cob
- Hard, sticky, chewy, chewy foods
- Apples, carrots, hard veggies (unless sliced into small pieces)
- Tough bread like bagels, pretzels, or pizza crust
Notably, this is not a complete list. So, if in doubt, avoid the food. By sticking to the general rules, you can avoid damage to your braces. Thus, you can avoid emergency appointments, and your treatment will go faster and more comfortably.Â
One day, before you know it, your braces will come off. Then, it will all be so worth it! You’ll have that perfect smile you always wanted. Plus, you get to enjoy any foods you missed during treatment.
We hope this information about the foods to eat with braces has been helpful.
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