Getting braces is an exciting step toward achieving that perfect smile you’ve always wanted, but with your new orthodontic hardware comes some temporary dietary adjustments.
Being aware of foods to avoid with braces and knowing what to eat with braces can help prevent damage to your brackets and wires, keeping your treatment on track and avoiding unnecessary visits to your orthodontist.
1. Popcorn
What can you not eat with braces? Popcorn is one of the worst enemies of braces and for good reason. Those hard, unpopped kernels can easily break brackets or bend wires when you unexpectedly bite down on them.
Even fully popped pieces can be problematic as the husks often get trapped between your braces and teeth, leading to discomfort and potential hygiene issues.
2. Hard Candy
Hard candies put a lot of pressure on your braces when you bite into them, which can lead to broken brackets and bent wires.
Even if you’re just sucking on hard candy rather than biting it, the sugar can get trapped in your braces, increasing your risk for cavities. Your treatment time is already an investment — you don’t want to add dental work to the mix!
Try to choose softer treats that quickly dissolve like chocolate (without nuts or caramel) or ice cream when you’re in need of something sweet.
3. Corn on the Cob
Biting directly into corn on the cob puts a lot of force on your front brackets and can dislodge them in an instant. This doesn’t mean you have to give up corn entirely, but you just need to cut it off the cob before eating.
This applies to many other foods too and making small adjustments in how you eat them can open your menu options considerably. For example, you can still enjoy apples when you slice them into small pieces, instead of biting into an apple whole.
If you’re ever unsure of what you should and shouldn’t eat, contact us and we will walk you through what foods you should avoid with braces.
4. Nuts
While almonds, peanuts, and cashews are healthy snacks, they’re just too hard and crunchy for braces. Biting into nuts can easily snap a bracket off your tooth or damage wires and the small pieces can also get lodged in your braces, making them difficult to clean properly.
If you’re looking for those nutrients and protein, softer alternatives like nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter) are great substitutes that give you the flavor and benefits without the risks.
5. Pizza Crust
Hard pizza crusts require significant biting force and can damage your orthodontic appliances. The softer, inner portions of the pizza are generally fine to eat, so focus on those instead. If you’re making pizza at home, you might want to go for a softer crust that’s easier to chew.
Final Thoughts
Braces dietary restrictions aren’t meant to take all the joy out of eating, but you need to make these temporary adjustments to be sure your treatment stays on track without unnecessary delays.
So, what should you eat with braces? There’s still plenty of recommended food for braces wearers, like pasta, soft breads, seafood, dairy products, steamed vegetables, and most fruits, when cut into small pieces.
Knowing foods to avoid with braces will pay off tremendously when your braces come off to reveal that beautiful, straight smile you’ve been working toward.