What You Can & Can’t Eat With Braces | 4 Foods To Avoid!
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Getting braces is a big decision, especially with how much of your day-to-day activities get affected by it. From eating habits to oral hygiene, a lot of your habits have to go through a big change. But that doesn’t mean they’re bad. If anything, braces help to restore your smile, straightening your pearly whites and a misaligned bite. Although to make sure the wire of your braces doesn’t snap, you have to pay extra attention to what you can and can’t eat with braces.
Are There Food Restrictions With Braces?
Unfortunately, yes, there are quite a few food restrictions when it comes to braces. You may have to put down your beloved potato chips to the side and even skip getting buttered popcorn when you’re at the movies next time. However, there are numerous substitutes you can go for instead.
Just because you have to limit your diet, a little doesn’t mean you can’t eat anything at all. If you’re craving your favorite snack but can’t munch on it, talk to your dentist and consult them about the choice. Based on your situation and the braces type, they will suggest what you should do next.
What Can’t You Eat With Braces
Let’s start off by breaking the bad news first. If you’re wondering what foods you will have to say goodbye to during the course of your orthodontic treatment, take a look below.
- Crunchy Foods
Anything that is loud and crunchy, like potato chips, hard-shell tacos, nachos, popcorn, etc., are bound to damage your braces. To avoid running into this problem, find softer alternatives for these snacks. - Chewy Foods
Soft, warm bagels, licorice, gummy candy, and the like are all food items that you need to chew to enjoy. Although if you’re not careful, food remains can get trapped between the braces, causing long-term problems. - Hard Foods
If you’re someone who loves nuts and trail mix, getting braces might make you reconsider your choice. Due to the rough texture of nuts, candies, and certain meats, the braces can snap apart. - Sticky Foods
Bubblegum, caramel, toffee, and fruit rollups are all some of the most sticky food options. Once they stick to the metal wire or the bracket of your braces, getting them out can be a nightmare. It’s best to avoid them altogether.
Foods That You Can Enjoy With Braces
Now that you know what food options are bad for your dental health with braces, here are some alternatives that are safer to munch on.
- Bread or Baked Items
Fluffy bread straight out of the oven is the best thing to have with braces, as it just melts in your mouth. Pancakes, waffles, and cupcakes are other items you can enjoy. - Dairy
All dairy items are usually considered safe for people with braces. Be it cheese, cream, milk, or eggs, you’re good. - Desserts
If you have a big sweet tooth, then fear not. You can still enjoy desserts that have a soft, easy-to-chew texture, such as ice cream, milkshakes, Jell-O, cakes, etc. - Fruits
Hard fruits are typically frowned upon when you have braces. However, applesauce, bananas, ripe peaches, and freshly-squeezed juice are all great options. - Grains
Pasta, lasagna, rice, and lentils are also some food items that you can eat for good energy without compromising on the taste factor. - Meat
Boiled chicken, minced meat, meatballs, and deli meats are also great for giving you protein without irritating the braces. - Seafood
Cooked seafood is usually safe to eat as long as you don’t chew it too much. Tuna, salmon, crab meat, and prawns are wonderful for your health and teeth.
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In A Nutshell
Rather than being upset over what you can’t eat with braces, redirect your energy into finding new comfort foods that are safe for your teeth and braces. For more information, contact Rosenberg Dental & Implant Center at (281) 369-9242 or drop by our clinic at 2818 Avenue I, Rosenberg, TX 77471, United States.