The top foods to avoid with braces include items like popcorn, nuts, chewy bread, and certain types of candy. By limiting these foods, you’ll ensure that the delicate wires and bracket system won’t break. You’ll also help make cleaning your braces every day a much easier task.
According to AARP, around 4 million Americans have braces. This means that it’s likely either you or someone you know is going through this kind of dental treatment.
By knowing this list of restricted foods, you can help make sure the braces do their work without any problems!
Why a Braces-Friendly Diet Is Important
Getting braces is a big step, no matter your age. If you don’t follow your dentist’s recommendations for a revised diet and good oral hygiene for braces, all of your hard work might not pay off in the end.
You could end up needing to see your dentist more often for repairs, or you might damage a tooth, both of which will slow down the overall treatment time.
Foods to Avoid With Braces
Living with any food restrictions can be tough, but try to remember that it’s to give your teeth the best protection while wearing braces.
1. Popcorn
Most dental health advice says that popcorn is among the most damaging foods for braces.
The puffed exterior tricks us into thinking we can chomp down without a care, but then the braces meet the harder part of the kernel. It’s common for many popcorn kernels to only pop halfway, which can present a dangerous core to your braces.
Add this issue to bits of popcorn kernels getting stuck in awkward places, and you have a recipe for dental treatment disaster.
2. Nuts
Nearly all nuts require a lot of force to crunch through, and they don’t soften up as you chew. This means the entire time you’re snacking can be a danger to your braces. The nuts may bend the brackets or wires and leave you needing a quick visit to the dentist.
It’s possible to switch to smooth nut butters for that nutty craving, but with those, you also need to be careful. The natural thick consistency could stick to the hardware of your braces, which may be difficult to clean.
3. Sticky candy
Candies and desserts that are naturally sticky are not your friend while you’re wearing braces. These foods cling too much to the braces and will pull at the wires and brackets. This might lead to a damaged spot or a shift in how the braces function.
Foods like this to avoid include:
- Taffy
- Chewing gum
- Bubble gum
- Caramel
- Tootsie rolls
- Starbursts
- Fruit chews
Sticky residue is also tricky to clean from your braces. It’s easy to miss a spot that might lead to plaque build-up on your teeth.
4. Corn on the Cob
Although a delicious summer classic, corn on the cob is too much of a wildcard for braces. Digging your teeth into the cob kernels can put too much pressure on the braces, leading to a similar issue as you’d have with nuts and popcorn.
A great alternative is to cook the cob normally, but then slice off the kernels and eat them with a fork or spoon. The flavor is the same, but you eliminate the risk of damage to your braces. Make sure the corn is cooked through before eating, though!
5. Chewy Bread
If you’re the type of person who loves a dense and chewy bread, it’s time to find an alternative until your braces are removed. The chewiness of the bread acts a lot like sticky candies. Biting into a slice of this kind of bread can put too much pressure on the wires and pop the brackets.
Cutting the bread into small pieces can negate a lot of the issue, but you still need to be careful. You also should avoid the hard crusts so you don’t interrupt the work going toward your beautiful smile.
6. Tough Meats
Red meats are often difficult when it comes to eating with braces. The texture and the potential toughness can be irritating to chew through without causing damage.
Make sure to always cut meat into small chunks to make it easier to eat, even if it’s a tender piece.
7. Crunchy Chips
For many, this kind of food is the hardest to avoid. The crunchy aspect that makes them so delectable is also what makes them so risky, including:
- Potato chips
- Tortilla chips
- Pretzels
- Crackers
Be diligent when cleaning your braces after eating these kinds of snacks. The oils, salts, and sugars can easily get stuck in hard-to-reach places.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Foods Cause the Most Damage to Braces?
The answer to this question can often change depending on a person’s jaw strength and the way they chew. However, chomping down on hard foods that require significant pressure to crush is the most likely category to do a lot of damage to braces.
What Are the 5 Stages of Having Braces?
Getting braces has 5 stages to help keep the treatment moving forward. These stages are:
- Evaluating and consulting with your dentist
- Attaching the braces to your teeth
- Adjusting the braces every several months
- Removing the braces and polishing your teeth
- Maintaining the newly reworked smile by wearing a retainer
Is 20 Too Late for Braces?
No age is ever too old for getting braces! Everyone deserves a smile that makes them happy and confident.
If braces are the treatment your dentist thinks will do the most good, we think you should give it a go. It can be a lengthy road, but braces have been improving smiles for decades.
Gain a Stunning Smile With Sing Orthodontics
Knowing which foods to avoid with braces is only part of this dental journey. Finding a local orthodontic office that you can trust to help you every step of the way is the best tool you can give your smile.
Sing Orthodontics has delivered 20 years of orthodontic care in the Round Rock and Lakeway areas. We aim to help people of all ages find the kind of compassionate treatments they deserve. We’ll be here to assist you with your dental journey, whether you only need regular cleanings or help choosing the right style of braces.
Schedule an appointment with us through our Round Rock or Lakeway offices!