Most foods in a healthy diet are ok to eat when wearing orthodontic appliances; however, there are a number of foods that orthodontic patients should minimize or avoid.
Sugary foods can cause cavities whether or not you are wearing orthodontic appliances. Patients with braces should also avoid hard foods that can break or damage their wires and brackets as well as sticky foods which can get caught between brackets and wires. Nail biting, pencil or pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should also be avoided.
Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:
- Gum with sugar in it (sugar-free is ok)
- Licorice
- Sugar Daddies
- Toffee
- Tootsie Rolls
- Caramels
- Starburst
Examples of Foods to be Careful of When Eating:
- Nuts
- Hard taco shells
- French bread crust/rolls
- Corn on the cob (cut the corn from the cob)
- Bagels
- Chips
- Pizza crust
- Apples (cut into slices)
- Uncooked carrots (cut into small pieces or grated)
Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:
- Ice
- Jolly Ranchers
- Any hard candy
Minimize Sugary Foods like:
- Cake
- Ice Cream
- Cookies
- Pie
- Candy
No More Than Once a Day:
- Soda
- Sweetened tea
- Gatorade
- Kool-Aid
- Drinks with sugar
It’s important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, please call our office to schedule an appointment for the repair.