What to Eat and What to Avoid While Wearing Braces
A Guide to Keeping Your Smile Healthy and Your Treatment on Track!
Getting braces is an exciting step toward a beautiful, healthy smile! While you’re working toward your perfect smile, it’s important to remember that what you eat can make a big difference in your orthodontic journey. The good news? You don’t have to give up all your favorite foods. You just need to make a few smart choices to protect your braces and keep your treatment moving forward.
Foods You Can Enjoy With Braces
There are plenty of delicious, braces-friendly foods to enjoy! Choosing softer foods is especially helpful when your teeth feel sore after getting braces or having an adjustment.
Here are some great options:
Fruits: Bananas, berries, melon, and apples or pears cut into small pieces.
Vegetables: Steamed broccoli, cooked carrots, mashed potatoes, and other soft-cooked vegetables.
Protein: Scrambled eggs, tender chicken cut into small pieces, flaky fish, and meatloaf.
Dairy: Yogurt, soft cheese, milk, and cottage cheese.
Grains: Pasta, oatmeal, soft bread, rice, and pancakes.
Other favorites: Smoothies, soups, macaroni and cheese, and soft pizza with a non-crunchy crust.
If your teeth feel tender after an appointment, stick with soft foods for a few days until chewing becomes comfortable again.
Foods to Be Careful With (or Avoid!)
Braces are designed to move your teeth, but hard, sticky, and chewy foods can damage brackets, bend wires, or loosen orthodontic appliances. A broken bracket can mean an extra visit to our office and may delay your treatment progress.
To help protect your braces, avoid these common troublemakers:
Hard foods
Hard candies and lollipops
Nuts and peanut brittle
Ice (never chew on it!)
Hard pretzels and crunchy chips
Hard taco shells and crusty bread
Sticky and chewy foods
Caramel and taffy
Gummy candies
Chewing gum, unless your orthodontist says otherwise
Sticky fruit snacks
Chewy candy that can pull on brackets and wires
Foods that need a little preparation
Apples and pears: Slice them instead of biting into them whole.
Carrots: Cook them until soft or cut them into manageable pieces.
Corn on the cob: Cut the kernels off before eating.
Pizza and sandwiches: Cut them into bite-sized pieces rather than biting into them with your front teeth.
Tough meats: Choose tender cuts and cut them into small pieces.
A simple rule to remember: If a food is very hard, sticky, or requires a forceful bite, it’s best to avoid it or prepare it differently.
Don't Forget About Sugary Foods and Drinks
Protecting your braces isn't just about avoiding broken brackets. Keeping your teeth healthy throughout treatment is just as important!
Sugary snacks and drinks can contribute to plaque buildup, cavities, and permanent white spots around your brackets. Soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and frequent sugary treats can make it harder to maintain a healthy smile.
Choose water or milk more often, limit sugary snacks, and brush thoroughly around your brackets. Remember to floss daily, too!
5 Tips for Eating With Braces
Cut food into small pieces. This reduces pressure on your brackets and wires.
Chew slowly and carefully. Avoid biting directly into hard foods with your front teeth.
Choose softer foods after adjustments. Give your teeth time to settle in.
Keep your braces clean. Brush after meals when possible, and carry a travel toothbrush for busy days.
Follow your orthodontist's instructions. Every smile is different, and our team is happy to answer your questions about food choices.
What If a Bracket Comes Loose?
Even when you're careful, accidents can happen. If a bracket becomes loose or a wire bends or breaks, contact our office for guidance. Don't try to force a wire or bracket back into place yourself.
Taking care of your braces helps keep your treatment progressing as planned and brings you one step closer to the smile you've been waiting for!
Let's Keep That Smile on Track!
Your braces journey is an investment in your confidence and your oral health. With a few simple food swaps and good oral hygiene habits, you can enjoy plenty of delicious meals while protecting your orthodontic appliances.
Have questions about what you can eat with braces? Our team is here to help! Contact our office anytime for guidance. We're cheering you on every step of the way toward your beautiful new smile!