While you are undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces, you will have to make some adjustments to your diet. When you get your braces placed, stick to soft foods for the first day. After that, avoid any tough meats, hard or crunchy pieces of bread, and raw vegetables.
Foods to Avoid
You should avoid any foods that can break or otherwise damage your archwire or brackets. This means that should avoid hard foods, sticky foods, and any foods that are high in sugar. You should also eliminate bad habits such as nail-biting, pencil/pen chewing, and chewing any other foreign objects.
Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:
- Regular bubble gum (you can occasionally have some sugar-free gum)
- Licorice
- Sugar Daddies
- Toffee
- Tootsie Rolls
- Caramels
- Starburst
Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:
- Ice
- Nuts
- Hard taco shells
- French bread crust/rolls
- Corn on the cob
- Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
- Bagels
- Hard Chips
- Popcorn
- Jolly Ranchers
- Pizza crust
Minimize Sugary Foods like:
- Cake
- Ice Cream
- Cookies
- Pie
- Candy
Cut to maximum once a day:
- Soda
- Sweetened tea
- Gatorade
- Kool-Aid
- Drinks with sugar
To have successful results, your appliances must remain in good condition during your treatment. We recommend regularly inspecting your braces for any bent or lose wires or brackets. If you find a loose or broken wire or bracket, save any loose pieces and save them to bring them to your next appointment. Call our office to extend your next appointment to allow additional time for repairs.