Foods to Steer Clear of When Wearing Braces
If you’ve recently left our Toronto orthodontics office wearing your brand new braces, congratulations! You are now on the path toward that straight and beautiful smile you’ve been dreaming of! With new braces comes new responsibilities, and some of those responsibilities include taking care of those fancy wires and brackets that are shifting your teeth into place. Brushing and flossing aside, some of the best ways to take care of your braces are simply by eating the right things.
As a courtesy, we would like to go over a list of foods to avoid, as well as some great alternatives below. While it may seem that there are no good foods you can eat when wearing braces, the truth is there are many delicious foods you can enjoy that won’t do any harm to the appliances in your mouth.
Foods to Avoid
The types of foods you should avoid while wearing braces includes hard, crunchy, sticky, and gooey foods. You should not eat:
- Pizza crust and other hard, crusty pieces of bread like bagels
- Ice
- Hard candies
- Raw vegetables
- All sticky foods like taffy and caramels
- Popcorn
- Nuts & Seeds
- Beef Jerky
Foods That Can Be Eaten With Care
Some foods can harm your braces if eaten improperly but are fine if you take some care when eating them. These foods should be cut into small, bite-sized pieces or in the case of meat, taken off the bone before eating. They include:
- Apples, pears, and other hard fruits (cut into small pieces)
- Carrots and other raw crunchy vegetables (cut into small pieces or softened by steaming them)
- Beef and pork on the bone (remove from the bone)
- Hard cookies (soften them with milk before eating)
Foods you Can Enjoy Worry-Free
Among the many types of foods you can eat without worrying about damaging your appliances include:
- Mashed & scalloped potatoes
- Treats like yogurt, applesauce, Jello, smoothies, and the fruit juices
- Cottage Cheese
- Soft fruits including grapefruit, bananas, oranges, nectarines, tangerines, and kiwi
- Steamed/cooked vegetables
- Non-tough meats like soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, and lunch meats
- Seafood like tuna, cod, salmon, and crab cakes
- Pasta & rice
- Soft pieces of bread such as soft tortillas, muffins, or cornbread
- Pancakes
- Eggs
- Soup
- Soft cooked beans
Another thing to keep in mind is that your teeth are more vulnerable to decay when you’re wearing braces. Since food debris can easily become trapped in and around your brackets and wires, it is important to take note of what you put in your mouth. This is why you should try to limit the number of sugary foods you consume like cookies, brownies, and cakes. Additionally, because your teeth are at more risk for decay while you’re in treatment, be sure to brush your teeth well several times each day and floss at least daily.
Keep in Mind: There Are No Food Restrictions with Invisalign
For those of you who have not yet decided on what type of treatment you would like to undergo, it is important to know that Invisalign wearers never have to worry about food restrictions. This is because Invisalign aligners are removable. When you’re wearing Invisalign, you simply take the aligners out before mealtime so you can enjoy all your favorite foods, no matter what they may be. Then when you’ve finished eating, you simply pop the aligners back in.
We are always available to speak with you so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Please stop by for a consultation and we can discuss the best treatment option for your orthodontic needs!