List of Foods to Avoid While Wearing Braces

Dental braces are used to straighten your teeth and rectify crooked teeth and other tooth and jaw defects. It is important to take care of braces and maintain hygiene for good dental health. If food remains in and around the braces, it can lead to the formation of plaque and tooth decay. Brushing and flossing after every meal will help to get rid of any food particles lodged between the teeth and braces. More importantly, what you eat and do not eat will directly affect the condition of your teeth. Eating certain foods can be harmful because they can bend or break the wires and even displace the brackets. If that occurs, it warrants a visit to your dentist/orthodontist, which is expensive and can even delay the treatment. The most obvious foods to avoid are very hard foods and foods that are sweet and sticky.

Foods to be Avoided while Wearing Braces

Hard Foods

• Pretzels
• Nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts)
• Bagels
• Hard rolls
• Raw veggies like carrots and celery
• Corn on the cob
• Hard cookies
• Baby back ribs
• Chicken wings
• Hard pizza crust
• Beef jerky
• Tacos and tortilla chips

The above mentioned foods should be strictly avoided. It's difficult to break and chew these foods, and they can even break the braces. Avoid them especially after you have had the braces' wires changed, since teeth are the most tender at this stage. Fruits are an essential part of a balanced diet, so if you want to eat apples, pears, and peaches, or other crunchy fruits, do not directly bite into them. Instead cut them into bite-size pieces before consuming. If you like nuts, grind them and add them to cereals and yogurt. Remove the meat from wings and ribs so you do not accidentally chew on a bone and pop your bracket! If you absolutely love corn, remove the kernels from the cob and have them. You can eat broccoli and other crunchy veggies provided you cut them into small pieces and steam them. Do not eat hard candies and lollipops. Can't resist cookies? Dip them in milk and eat them when they soften. Do not have ice cubes at all as it can damage the braces. You can suck on them, but never bite them!

Sweet, Sugary, and Sticky Foods

• Caramel candies
• Honey
• Toffees
• Chocolate-covered nuts
• Raisins
• Fruit rolls
• Chewing gum

Sticky foods are the most dangerous, they can get stuck to your teeth and braces, and can even result in the braces getting pulled off. Sugary foods, as the name implies, are high in sugar, and their consumption can lead to tooth decay. If at all you have candies, have the ones you can suck on, and afterwards, rinse your mouth to avoid sugar buildup on the teeth. Totally avoid chewing gum and bubble gum. Gum stuck on the braces can be messy and difficult to clean. It can also loosen the wires and brackets and cause them to come off.

Foods High in Acid

• Citrus fruits like lemons and limes
• Sodas and carbonated beverages (that includes diet sodas)

These highly acidic foods should be avoided at all costs. These foods can cause thinning of the enamel and discoloration of teeth. Once you remove the braces, the color difference between the teeth, where the braces were, will be quite obvious.

Additionally, never chew on things like pens, pencils, pen caps, and fingernails. Do not even try to tear or rip open anything by your teeth. This can cause extensive damage to the braces.

Let us concentrate on the foods you can and should consume. Include steamed and cooked vegetables in your diet. Eat fruits that are cut into pieces, which can be easily chewed by the back teeth. Eat whole grains. Pastas, breads, and rice should be eaten since they contain nutrients like iron, fiber, and folic acid that are essential for the body. Drink unsweetened juices. And most importantly, include dairy products since they are one of the richest sources of calcium and vitamin D, that are crucial for healthy teeth and bones. Make milk, cheese, and yogurt (preferably low-fat) a part of your daily diet. Be careful with soft cheese though, it might stick between the braces.

Make a wise choice based on the above list of foods, now that you are aware what foods are good and what should not be consumed. Your meals need not be boring. Spice things up by trying new recipes that will not prove harmful for the braces. Rinse your mouth with thoroughly after every meal. Take care of your braces and maintain oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly. Make sure that you eat a variety of healthy foods while undergoing orthodontic treatment for braces. And, it won't be long before the braces set things straight and you regain that attractive smile!