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
- Noodle dishes
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Yogurt