Avoid these types of foods if you have braces.
Getting braces is a big step toward achieving a perfect smile, but it also comes with some dietary restrictions. Certain foods can damage your brackets, bend wires, or cause painful complications. To avoid extra trips to the orthodontist, here are the top five worst foods to eat when you have braces.
1. Sticky Candies (Caramel, Taffy, and Gummies)
Sticky sweets like caramel, taffy, and gummy bears are a nightmare for braces. They can get lodged in between brackets and wires, making them difficult to clean. Worse yet, they can pull brackets right off your teeth, leading to an emergency repair.
2. Hard Foods (Nuts, Popcorn, and Hard Candy)
Crunching on hard foods like nuts, popcorn kernels, and hard candy can easily break your braces. Biting down on something too firm may cause a bracket to snap off or a wire to bend, setting back your orthodontic progress. If you love nuts, opt for nut butters instead!
3. Chewy and Crunchy Bread (Bagels and Crusty Rolls)
While bread seems harmless, chewy and dense varieties like bagels and crusty rolls can be tough on braces. They require excessive chewing, which puts pressure on your brackets. Soft breads or tortillas are a better alternative.
4. Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables (Apples, Raw Carrots, and Corn on the Cob)
Although fruits and vegetables are healthy, some can be difficult to eat with braces. Apples and raw carrots require strong bites that could dislodge brackets. If you can’t resist them, cut them into small, bite-sized pieces or cook them until they’re soft.
5. Sugary and Carbonated Drinks (Soda and Sports Drinks)
Sugary beverages like soda and sports drinks may not directly damage braces, but they contribute to plaque buildup and tooth decay, which can be harder to clean around brackets. Acidic drinks can also weaken enamel, leading to white spots when your braces come off. Stick to water or unsweetened beverages instead.
Final Thoughts
Taking care of your braces means making smart food choices. Our team is here to help! Avoiding these five types of foods will help keep your treatment on track and prevent unnecessary visits to the orthodontist. Continuous repairs to your braces can cause your treatment to go longer. Remember, it’s only temporary—once your braces come off, you’ll have a beautiful, healthy smile to show off!