Do you know what foods to avoid with braces? Braces are an exciting step toward achieving a healthier, more beautiful smile, but they do come with a few new rules to keep treatment on time. One of the most important changes you’ll make during orthodontic treatment is paying closer attention to what you eat. Certain foods can damage your braces, prolong your treatment time, or make cleaning your teeth trickier. At Skelton Orthodontics, our team wants to help you stay on track by knowing exactly what to avoid—and why.
Why Food Choices Matter
Your braces are working hard to straighten your teeth, and they need to stay intact to do their job. Eating the wrong foods can break brackets, bend wires, or cause other damage that slows down your progress. Plus, some foods are more likely to get stuck in your braces, making it harder to keep your teeth clean and your gums healthy.
Foods to Skip During Treatment
While you’re in braces, here are the types of foods you’ll want to steer clear of:
- Sticky Foods:
Caramel, taffy, gummy candies, and chewing gum can stick to your braces, making them tough to clean and more likely to pull on wires or brackets. - Hard Foods:
Foods like nuts, hard candies, popcorn kernels, and ice can crack brackets or bend wires. Even crunching on raw vegetables like carrots or hard fruits like apples should be done with caution (cook them or cut them into smaller, bite-sized pieces). - Crunchy Snacks:
Chips, pretzels, and similar snacks can break brackets or get lodged in hard-to-reach areas around your braces. - Sugary Treats:
While not damaging to braces directly, sugary foods and drinks like soda, candy, and sweetened beverages can lead to plaque buildup around brackets, increasing your risk of cavities and discoloration. - Chewy Foods:
Foods like bagels, licorice, or tough cuts of meat can be difficult to bite and chew, putting unnecessary strain on your braces.
Smart Food Choices
Avoiding these foods doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all your favorites. Many foods can still be enjoyed with a few simple adjustments:
- Soft Alternatives: Choose soft bread, ripe fruits, steamed vegetables, and tender meats.
- Cut and Chop: Slice harder foods like apples, pears, or raw veggies into smaller pieces to make them easier to eat.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking water throughout the day helps wash away food particles and reduces the risk of plaque buildup.
What to Do If Something Breaks
Accidents happen, and sometimes a wire gets bent or a bracket pops off despite your best efforts. If this happens, don’t panic! Contact us as soon as possible so we can fix the issue and keep your treatment on track.
Enjoy the Journey
While it may take some time to adjust to your new food routine, the results are well worth it. By knowing what foods to avoid with braces and following Dr. Skelton’s advice, you’ll keep your braces in great shape and get to your dream smile faster. Have no fear, you will be free to eat anything you would like once your treatment is complete! If you have any questions or need more tips, our team at Skelton Orthodontics is always here to help!