Food to Avoid if You Have Braces
Braces are delicate, and any foods that are sticky, chewy, or hard can easily cause them to break, including:
- ice
- nuts
- popcorn
- hard candy
- gum
- chewy candy like caramel or gummy bears
- whole hard fruit like apples and pears and hard, raw veggies like carrots
- corn on the cob
- hard pretzels
- peanut brittle
- pizza crust
- hard rolls or bagels
- ribs
Any food that you need to bite into to eat is prime for breaking braces. You can get around this by cutting the food, such as corn off the cob or rib meat off the bone, or slicing apples and chopping carrots into small, bite-size pieces.
Things You Can Eat
You may also experience problems eating after your braces are tightened–teeth may feel sore. The first few days are the worst, so try eating softer foods like those listed below until the soreness passes:
- scrambled eggs
- oatmeal
- soup with soft vegetables or pureed or cream soups
- soft cheeses, including cottage cheese
- smoothies and milkshakes
- pudding and custard
- meatloaf
- mashed potatoes
- sorbet and frozen yogurt
- tortillas (soften by microwaving or steaming)
- yogurt
- soft-cooked, shredded chicken and meat
- protein shakes
- tofu
- ripe fruits, such as peaches and nectarines, cut into bite-size pieces
- couscous, quinoa, bulgur, soft-cooked rice
- pasta and noodles
- polenta
- baked apples
- peanut butter
- chicken or tuna salad
- refried beans
- avocado
- applesauce
- macaroni and cheese
- pancakes
- soft bread
- saltines and matzoh
- mashed bananas
- cooked veggies
- hummus
- canned or cooked fruit
To supplement your at-home dental care, visit your dentist for regular checkups. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Zorro today-Come in today so we can assess your teeth and help you get ahead of your oral care. Also ask us about our teeth whitening for braces!
