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Foods to Avoid with Braces

You’ll be eating all your favorite foods again in no time. But for now, we’ve put together a list of the foods you’ll want to avoid during treatment.

What foods should you avoid with braces?

Braces are much stronger than they used to be, but they aren’t indestructible. It’s really important to be careful when eating to not cause damage to your braces.

Some foods can break components of your braces like the arch wires, brackets, or appliances.

Below we’ll provide you with a quick guide on what to avoid, as well as some “free to eat” suggestions!

Top Foods to Avoid When Wearing Braces

Avoid these below foods. Even small or cut up bites can lead to damage.

Corn chips

Gum

Hard cookies or crackers

Hard taco shells

Ice

Nuts

Popcorn

Pretzels

Sticky and hard candy

Sticky or hard chocolate

Try to avoid biting into these below foods with braces. When possible cut up these hard foods into smaller pieces.

Burgers

Corn on the cob

Croutons

French / Italian bread

Fruit

Meat

Raw vegetables

Sub sandwiches

Thin crust pizza

Maintaining a healthy, nutritious diet is important for oral health and your overall health. The healthier you are, the better your orthodontic results will be. Having a proper diet provides the essential nutrients to the jaw, bones, and tissues that are shifting and moving during braces treatment.

Cheese

Fruit that doesn’t have any pits

Light crackers or cookies

Mashed potatoes

Noode dishes

Peanut butter and jelly

Yogurt