Getting braces can be terrifying because you will be making a significant lifestyle change. Your mouth may feel sensitive. To make the procedure less painful, you will have to restrict certain foods from your diet.
When you start wearing braces, you will need to make changes to your daily meal plan to prevent them from getting damaged. You must be thinking now, what foods can you not eat with braces?
Foods that you cannot eat with braces are popcorn, raw vegetables, nuts, hard cookies, crackers, croutons, thin-crust pizza, burgers, and hard rolls. Certain foods trigger irritation and sensitivity to the braces causing damage and breakage to the wires and brackets of the device.
In addition to these foods, chewing ice and bubble gum is totally off the table. During braces treatment, you must avoid foods and liquids that can stain your teeth, such as coffee, tea, and dark sodas.
The basic rule with braces is to avoid hard, chewy, sticky, or crunchy meals. They do more harm than good to the braces.
While it may be inconvenient to be unable to consume certain foods while wearing braces, but if you follow particular instructions, then you will not experience any delays in your treatment.
Foods to Avoid with Braces
It is crucial to avoid damage to the braces despite the fact that advanced technology has made them more durable.
Some foods cause harm to the bands, brackets, and even wires attached to the braces.
Because braces are prone to damage, you will need to avoid specific foods for the duration of your treatment.
Avoid any sticky, hard, or chewy foods as a general rule of thumb.
Sticky and hard foods can damage the wires or bands, causing a bracket to come loose from the tooth.
Following is the list of foods that you cannot eat with braces:
- Popcorn
- Raw vegetables
- Corn on the cob
- Tough or chewy meat
- Thick, crunchy crackers
- Whole apples and pears
- Hard or crusty bread
- Meat on the bones
- Nuts
- Gum
- Bagels
- Corn chips
These foods above tend to be the main culprit behind the damage to braces. They must be avoided at any cost to complete your orthodontic treatment successfully.
Let us take a look at how they are proven harmful to your braces.
Also Read: What To Eat For Breakfast With Braces
1. Popcorn
Braces can get damaged by the hard kernels of popcorn.
Popcorn hulls tend to get lodged between teeth.
They can get stuck deeply and it is impossible to remove them without removing part of the brace.
2. Raw Vegetables
Raw vegetables are hard and can break the wires of the braces.
The wires or brackets can be broken by biting into a whole raw vegetable.
To consume the vegetables raw, one must cut them into thin slices or cook them till mushy.
3.Corn On The Cob
Eating corn on the cob is a terrible idea for the braces wearer.
While wearing braces, it is not advisable to bite into foods with your front teeth.
Before eating, chop the corn off with a sharp knife.
4. Tough or Chewy Meat
Tough and chewy meat such as pork, beef, or chicken is difficult to eat with braces.
Their strands can get stuck beneath teeth and braces, making them hard to remove.
Only eat soft meat during treatment that is not tough to chew.
5. Thick, Crunchy Crackers
Chomping into hard or crunchy foods causes the wires of the braces to become misaligned.
It demands an extra trip to the orthodontist to fix the issue.
6. Whole Apples and Pears
Never bite directly into hard fruits like apples and pears while on braces.
Those hard fruits can dislodge a wire or even result in breaking them.
7. Hard or Crusty Bread
Hard rolls, crusty bread, and pizza crusts are difficult to eat with braces due to their tough nature.
One must choose from soft, milky bread or remove the crusty part of the bread before eating.
8. Meat on the bones
Avoid eating any meat directly from the bones.
For example, chicken wings, fried chicken, meat roast, or fish with bones.
Braces can get dented if bones get into the teeth.
9. Nuts
Most nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, or cashews, are hard, and their chunks can displace brackets and break the wires of the braces.
10. Gum
With braces, chewing a stick of gum is not a fun idea to do.
It is difficult to get it out after it is caught in the gaps of the brackets and around the wire.
11. Bagels
This round-shaped bread is difficult to bite into.
The force needed to chew bagels puts an extra strain on braces and harms them permanently.
12. Corn chips
Avoid corn chips at all costs.
They can get settled between braces and teeth, especially between molars.
It becomes difficult to remove their residues in between teeth.
One must wait until the removal of braces to enjoy your next nacho.
Also Read: What to Eat with Braces and What Not
Soft Foods to Avoid with Braces
Soft foods are generally recommended to eat with braces, but even there are some soft foods that a braces wearer must steer clear of.
Soft foods that you cannot eat with braces are listed below:
- Marshmallows
- Fudge
- Nutty brownies
- Chunky peanut butter
- Hot soups or stews
- Ice creams
- Sticky or gooey chocolates
- Hard cheese
- Rice cakes
- Crunchy cereal or granola
Even though these above foods are soft, yet they are harmful to the teeth and braces.
Marshmallows, fudge, and rice cakes are sticky foods that can wedge themselves under braces which become hard to clean later.
Brownies and peanut butter with nuts can break a wire while chewing them.
Chocolates and ice creams are high in sugar content that decays the tooth if not cleaned properly after eating them.
Also Read: Best Soft Foods to Eat with Braces
Fast Foods to Avoid with Braces
Fast food appeals to everyone, whether they are kids or adults. They are delicious and, in many cases, inexpensive.
Anyone who wears braces should avoid snacking excessively and strive to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Fast foods to avoid when wearing braces include:
- Pizza with hard and thin-crust
- Burgers
- Chicken wings
- Hard cookies
- Crunchy/tortilla chips
- Sticky, hard, or nutty chocolates
- Sub sandwiches
- Licorice candy
- Beef jerky
- Hard taco shells
If you eat a lot of fast food, you could be getting deprived of vitamins and minerals required to regain strength from the dental procedure.
Also Read: 12 Fast Foods to Eat with Braces
Drinks to Avoid with Braces
Maintaining good dental hygiene is essential for a healthy smile when you have braces.
To preserve your oral health, you should clean your teeth regularly and avoid specific foods and drinks.
Drinks with a lot of sugar are especially dangerous.
Sugar in these drinks adheres to your teeth and braces, creating an ideal environment for germs to thrive.
As these bacteria multiply, they release an acidic material that can eat away the enamel (the tooth’s protective covering).
As the enamel on your teeth wears away, cavities occur, and your teeth start to decay.
Avoid these drinks to protect your teeth and braces:
- Red wine
- Soda
- Sweetened tea
- Sparkling water
- Gatorade
- Powerade
- Juice boxes
- Coffee
- Lemonade
- Energy drinks
Although drinks like coffee, red wine, and carbonated beverages will not harm your brace or disrupt the procedure, they can discolor your teeth.
This means that when the time comes to remove your braces, you may find yourself with white squares on your teeth where the brackets were inserted.
Make wise decisions throughout your orthodontic treatment. Stay hydrated and healthy by drinking plenty of water.
Also Read: Reasons Not to Get Braces
What to Take Away?
Braces can be difficult to wear, whether you are a child or an adult.
However, taking care of your teeth and eating the appropriate meals can make a big difference in the long run.
You do not have to give up delicious food because you wear braces.
You can still enjoy and eat food throughout treatment by following a few easy guidelines and avoiding a few things.
Some changes in dietary lifestyle can significantly improve the effectiveness of braces.
Wearing braces will be more comfortable if you eat the correct foods.
You will save money on extra trips to the orthodontist for repairs by avoiding damage to the braces.
Braces do not have to reduce the quality of your life. They provide you with a beautiful experience by giving you a lovely smile.
Feel free to ask any questions regarding this article in the comment section below!
