There are certainly foods to avoid when you get braces. While you have your braces, is important that you stick to foods that will not break your appliances. Broken appliances may result in delayed treatment.
For the first week after you get your braces, only eat soft foods until any discomfort subsides. Throughout your treatment, try to avoid eating hard, crunchy, or sticky foods and candies to keep from damaging your braces. Review our suggestions below to keep your appliances in perfect shape.
Foods to avoid with braces:
Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Objects that you may chew or bite on – pencils, pens, water bottles, and mouthpieces
Foods you CAN eat with braces:
Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
Click HERE to download a printable list of foods to avoid.