Living with braces: what not to eat
When you first get your braces it can take a little while to get used to taking care of them. In order to ease you into your new life with braces we’ve compiled this list of what not to eat with braces so you don’t damage your braces and add extra time to your treatment.
Foods to avoid with braces
Sticky, chewy, high sugar foods
Foods that are overly sticky or chewy should be avoided during your entire treatment process as they can damage your arch wires, brackets and o-rings. If you think about how easy these foods get stuck in your teeth before braces think about how much this will increase with the added appliance. When foods get stuck in between the arch wire and the tooth it adds pressure which can lead to breakages or cause the wire to pop out of the bracket. Once this happens your treatment will be put on hold until the damage is rectified, meaning extra treatment time.
Chewy, sticky foods include:
- Any sweets containing toffee
- Bubblegum and chewing gum
- Minties and Fantails
- Muesli bars
Hard, crunchy foods
We recommend being careful with hard foods. If they can be cut into small, bite-size pieces do so and focus on chewing with your back molars. Never bite into large pieces of fruit or hard foods with your front teeth as this puts pressure on your brackets and wires.
Hard foods include:
- Crunchy fruits and veggies including apples, carrots, pears, broccoli
- Crisps and corn chips
- Various nuts
- Crusty breads
- Corn on the cob
- Meat not cut away from the bone
- Ice cubes, chips and icy poles
Foods you can eat with braces
It’s not all bad news! You can still enjoy many of your favourite foods you might just have to change your method of eating – such as cutting them up into small pieces. However, we recommend maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet throughout your treatment to avoid staining, decay and other damage to your teeth while wearing your braces.
Foods that are healthy for your teeth include foods containing dairy (make sure to avoid those with added sugar) and fruits and vegetables rich in essential vitamins and minerals. By keeping teeth healthy and strong, you’ll avoid the need for extra dental work and ensure your treatment run smoothly.
Orthodontic emergencies
If by chance, you have broken a bracket, wire or o-ring, you need to make an appointment with your orthodontist at Excel Orthodontics as soon as possible. Not only will this be uncomfortable for you, it could also increase your overall treatment time or lead to other complications.
