What Can You Eat with Braces?

If you are about to start orthodontic treatment, you may be wondering what lifestyle changes you will need to make to ensure your braces stay safe and intact. Will you still be able to eat your favorite food? Can you chew gum? These are questions you may be wondering if braces are in your future.

While there will indeed be some changes that need to be made, you will get to enjoy plenty of good foods without sticking strictly to a soft diet during your treatment. Below, we will take a look at foods you can and can’t eat with braces, why you should be mindful about your diet, and a few tips to help you eat properly while undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Best Foods to Eat with Braces

You still have many food choices available to you with braces on. Oatmeal, pizza, mashed potatoes, and smoothies are all excellent options for sticking to a soft diet and getting the nutrition you need. 

More foods to enjoy with braces:

• Yogurt, soft cheese, pudding, and ice cream
• Pancakes, soft pretzels, muffins, and cupcakes
• Noodles, rice, pasta, and cereal
• Hot dogs, lunch meats, ground beef, ground chicken, and tender steak (cut into small pieces)
• Mashed potatoes, small chunks of fresh vegetables, cooked veggies, and salad
• Apples, bananas, oranges, and grapes
• Cheesecake, milkshakes, brownies, and donuts

Foods to Avoid with Braces

Primarily, you should avoid eating any kind of food that is hard, chewy, gooey, sticky, or crunchy. These types of foods can cause considerable damage to your braces, slowing down the overall treatment.

Some foods to avoid with braces:

• Popcorn
• Chewing gum, caramels, gummy worms, Tootsie rolls, hard candy, and taffy
• Harder Nuts
•  Corn on the cob

Why It’s Important to be Mindful of Food with Braces

For orthodontic treatment to be effective, you may need to make a few adjustments. This is particularly true when it comes to the food you eat. By being mindful of your diet, you can avoid damage to the braces, unnecessary trips to the orthodontist, and additional discomfort. Here are a few reasons to ensure a braces-friendly diet:

Damage to Your Braces

One of the main reasons to be mindful of your diet with braces matters is the risk of damage to your orthodontic appliances. If you eat foods that are too sticky or hard, a bracket can become dislodged from the tooth or an arch wire can snap. If this happens, your braces will have to be repaired. Avoiding damage by eating the right foods can help keep your orthodontic journey on track.

Unnecessary Discomfort

Softer foods are generally recommended for the first few days as you get used to the braces. This will help to avoid additional discomfort during the adjustment period.

Stained Teeth

If you tend to consume a lot of foods or beverages that are high in sugar and fail to brush your teeth properly, your teeth may stain. To help prevent stained teeth from occurring, stick to a proper braces-friendly diet.

Braces from Aloha Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatment has the potential to improve the appearance of your smile and your overall confidence. We can provide you with a long list of foods that you should avoid throughout your orthodontic treatment at Aloha Orthodontics. We offer a variety of orthodontic options to get you smiling, so contact us today to learn more! We have two awesome Las Vegas orthodontic locations.