Eating proper foods, minimizing sugar intake and getting enough sleep are essential during orthodontic treatment. Your braces are precise appliances that can be damaged by eating hard foods. Some soft and sticky foods can cause tooth decay and loosen or dislodge your braces.
Foods to avoid with braces
Hard foods: popcorn, ice, hard candy, whole nuts, corn chips and taco shells. These foods will cause appliance damage such as broken brackets and bent wires.
Sticky/chewy foods: gum, caramel, taffy, Starburst. These foods, generally high in sugar, can cause dental decay in addition to being hazardous to your orthodontic appliances.
High-sugar foods: soft drinks, cereals, soft candy. These foods causes increased plaque, greater risk of cavities and decalcification.
High-acid foods: lemons, dill pickles. The high acid content of these foods can cause harm to the bonding material, damaging your braces and thus extending your orthodontic treatment.
Take extra care with: bagels, apples, carrots, pizza crust, hard breads. If you wish to eat these foods cut them into manageable bite-size portions in order to avoid appliance damage.
