Don't worry; you'll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.

Foods To Avoid With Braces: Candy and food that are sticky and chewy, or hard and crunchy, create the biggest problems for kids and adults wearing braces or retainers. Therefore, In general:

  • Nothing Hard
  • Nothing Sticky
  • No Big Mouthfuls
  • No Tearing Things With Your Teeth
  • Only One Soda Per Week - It's The Carbonation As Much As The Sugar That Can Give You Problems
  • Specifically, Avoid
  • Gum
  • Toffies
  • Hard Candy
  • Sticky Candy Such As Caramels, Toffee Etc.
  • Popcorn
  • Nuts
  • Ice
  • Thick Potato Chips
  • Whole Apples And Carrots (Cut Them Into Pieces First)
  • Hard Bread Crust And Rolls
  • Corn On The Cob (Cut The Corn Off The Cob Before Eating)
  • Thick Pizza Crust
  • Chewable Vitamins (Hard Or Soft)
  • When You Are Craving Something Sweet, Plain Chocolate Candy Is Best As Long As You Brush Afterwards.

Remember:

  • Crunchy, chewy, sticky, gooey foods can damage your braces which will require additional appointments and lengthen the treatment time. When you follow our instructions about what to eat and how to keep your braces in good shape, your hard work will lead to excellent results!
  • Be sure to brush and floss often and watch what you eat and chew (pencils and finger nails included)! If you have any concerns or questions, please contact our office.

Foods You Can Eat With Braces:

  • Chapatis (Not Tandoori Ones As They Are Hard)
  • Rice (Brush Carefully After)
  • Dairy - Soft Cheese, Pudding, Milk-Based Drinks
  • Most Of The Sweets (Mithai)
  • Breads - Soft Without Nuts
  • Grains - Pasta, Soft-Cooked Rice
  • Meats/Poultry - Soft-Cooked Chicken, Meatballs
  • Vegetables - Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Spinach, Beans
  • Fruits - Bananas, Fruit Juice, Peeled And Sliced Apples, Oranges (Fruits With Vitamin C Help Your Gums)
  • Chocolate Bars Without Nuts Or Caramel
  • Cakes
  • Ice Cream Or Popsicles (No Ice)
  • Low Sugar, Non-Carbonated Drinks
  • Cookies And Crackers (Beware Of Crunchy Ones)
  • Cheetos
  • Soft Breads Or Toast (Bite Size)
  • Sandwiches (Bite Size)
  • Pizza (Bite Size)
  • Hotdogs (Bite Size)
  • Meat (Bite Size W/Out Bone, Chewy Meat May Be Hard On Your Jaw Joints)
  • Salads (Beware Of Nuts)
  • Raw Vegetables (Bite Size)
  • Cooked Vegetables
  • Potatoes
  • Fruit (Bite Size)
  • Fruit Smoothies
  • Yogurt
  • Most Cereals (Not Hard)
  • Soup
  • Macaroni And Cheese
  • Pasta Dishes
  • Cheese