Foods to Avoid While Wearing Braces!

There are a variety of foods you should avoid while wearing braces and other orthodontic appliances.  Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break your brackets. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery.  You'lll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods you should avoid include: 

• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Also, chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to give Dr. Pautienis and our team a call or ask our staff during your next visit.