What You Can And Can’t Eat With Braces

If you have braces and are wondering what foods you can eat while having braces, you’ve come to the right place. If you are wondering what to eat and what to avoid with braces, you can always consult an orthodontist in Dallas, TX, who will advise you and help you throughout the process. 

Why Certain Foods Should Be Avoided With Braces?

Your braces had brackets, bands, and arch wires that can get damaged due to certain foods. This can lengthen the duration of the treatment. Moreover, certain foods can get stuck in your teeth causing cavities to form asking the Braces. If the teeth and braces are not cleaned properly, they can accumulate plaque and tartar. Therefore it is essential to maintain proper oral hygiene for the treatment to go smoothly.

What You Can’t Eat With Braces?

Eating with braces can be tricky with crunchy, sticky foods or hard foods as it can loosen the bracket wires or bands, which can cause delays in treatment. Following are a few examples of the type of food to avoid with braces

• Consider avoiding biting into whole pears and apples, you can eat them but first cut them up into small thin pieces.
• Raw vegetables such as carrots can put a lot of pressure on your brace. It can break the site if bracket. Therefore, consider cutting the carrot into thin sticks or rounds or cooking them before eating.
• Avoid hard or crusty bread such as pizza crust.
• Popcorn can get stuck in your braces or under the gum. With braces, it’s tough to remove the stuck particle without removing part of the braces.
• Most nuts are hard and can dislodge the brackets and wires.
• Corn on the cob is an easy recipe for disaster. You need to cut the corn off before eating.
• Try to eat only soft meats that don’t require a lot of chewing.
• Avoid caramel, sticky foods that can get stuck in archwires. It can even get stuck in your hardware causing damage.
• Licorice is terrible for your braces and should be avoided at all costs.
• Chewing gum is not a good idea while having braces as it can get stuck in your brackets or wires, and tough to get it out.

You should also avoid hard objects, that can damage your braces.

• Chewing pen or pencil
• Biting nails
• Opening package with teeth
• Toothpicks
• Chewing straws

What You Can Eat With Braces?

There are different good foods you can have with braces. The good news is you don’t have to stick to your diet for the next two years. You can consume all your favorite foods while having your braces. 

• You can drink soups or eat mashed potatoes.
• You can consume dairy products like soft cheese, yogurt, and dips.
• You can eat rice, noodles, and cooked pasta, without any worries.
• You can eat cooked soft vegetables.
• You should avoid any bone & shell otherwise, you are free to consume fish, crab, salmon, oysters, and mussels.
• You can consume soft fruits, such as bananas, kiwi, pineapple, strawberries, etc.
• You can consume ice cream, jelly, smoothies, and milkshakes, but moderation is key. Don’t eat too much sugar as it can harm teeth and overall health.
• Soft bread and sandwiches, soft tacos, and tortillas are easy to eat with braces.

How To Clean Your Braces?

It is very important to care for your teeth with braces to ensure your teeth are safe and healthy. If you maintain poor oral hygiene, it can cause gum disease and form cavities. You can take the following measures to ensure your teeth are safe.

• Use A Soft Toothbrush

Cleaning the top part of your teeth, i.e., between your bracelets and gums is essential to avoid gum disease. Therefore, you need to select a toothbrush that touches the gums. You can use a soft brush to avoid irritation.

• Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal

The brace wires can trap food particles and cause plaque build-up. Therefore, brushing after every meal will ensure there is no plaque build-up or debris stuck in your teeth. It is recommended to carry a travel toothbrush.

• Don’t Use Too Much Toothpaste

The foam created from toothpaste can make it difficult to see plaque and debris. First, brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush to clean around the brackets wires and band. Then add a small amount of toothpaste to clean your teeth. Avoid scrubbing, use a picking motion to clean your teeth.

• Use Antiseptic Mouthwash Regularly

Rinsing your mouth is essential to remove stubborn bacteria. It can also reach areas that are tough to reach while brushing and flossing. You can swish a bit of mouthwash to ensure all food particles, bacteria, etc., are removed from your braces.

The Best Orthodontist In Dallas, TX

If you are worried about your braces and are confused about what to do next, visit our orthodontist in Dallas, TX, who will help throughout the process. At Dallas Orthodontics, we recommend slight adjustments to help you with your braces. Contact us to know more!