What Can You Eat With Braces?

A great way to transform your smile is with the help of braces. With braces comes a lot of responsibility, including maintaining good oral hygiene and healthy eating habits. Following dietary guidelines can help you avoid damaging your braces and compromising your oral health. If you are considering braces, you may wonder what can you eat with braces and what to eat first week with braces. In this article we will discuss specific foods to eat and avoid with braces.

What to Eat During First Week With Braces and Beyond

What to eat first week with braces? As with anything that is new to you for the first time, a period of adjustment is often necessary. It often takes individuals a couple days to get used to the braces after they are initially placed, but choosing to eat certain foods during this time can help make your adjustment easier. It is recommended to consume soft foods that don’t require much chewing during your first week with braces and beyond. Recommended food for braces include:

Yogurt
Oatmeal
Soft fruits (i.e. bananas, kiwi, berries without seeds)
Soft vegetables (i.e. peas, avocado, beans, squash)
Scrambled eggs
Soups
Pasta
Seafood
Mashed potatoes
Soft cheeses

Comfort Foods: Choosing Soft Options for Braces

As you adjust to your new braces, you may experience oral sensitivity. Optimizing comfort with braces is essential, and the foods you choose to eat can help. Comfortable and soft foods to eat with braces include:

Mashed potatoes with cheddar
Oatmeal with bananas
Chicken noodle soup
Butternut squash souffle or soup
Scrambled eggs
Apple sauce
Buttermilk pancakes
Macaroni and cheese
Salmon
Pudding
Soft, cooked rice
Soft-cooked beans

Foods to Be Careful With

There are some foods that can still be eaten with braces but require caution. As mentioned, softer foods should be eaten for the first week or so after braces. But, certain soft foods can cause sensitivity during this time and should be eaten carefully. This includes ice cream, citrus fruits, and soft spicy foods.

So, how long after getting braces can you eat solid food? After around three to four days, you should be able to begin consuming solid food. You can minimize discomfort by chewing slowly and using your back teeth.

The No-Go Foods: Protecting Your Braces

If you love sweets, you may be asking, ‘what candy can you eat with braces?’ Candy tops the list of what can't you eat with braces. Not only does candy increase your risk of getting cavities, it also can lead to broken appliances and prolonged treatment times for those in orthodontic treatment. Other foods to completely avoid while wearing braces include:

Corn on the cob
Crunchy vegetables (i.e. celery, carrots, peppers)
Crunchy Fruits (i.e. apples, pears)
Pizza crust
Popcorn
Nuts
Ice
Hard breads
Chips
Pretzels
Pickles

Eating Right with Braces

Having braces is the perfect time to adapt healthy dietary habits that can stick with you long after your braces are removed. Create a diet plan that includes daily serving recommendations of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy protein, healthy oils, and water. Do your best to limit your consumption of sugary foods and drinks like dessert, breakfast cereals, soda, juice, and sports drinks. Sugars are used by bacteria to create harmful acids that destroy tooth enamel in the form of dental plaque.

Eating Well with Dietary Needs

If you have special dietary needs, such as those who are vegetarian, vegan, have allergies to certain foods, or follow other specific dietary guidelines, can still maintain healthy eating habits with braces. Individuals with specific dietary needs should keep in mind that hard protein foods and raw vegetables should be avoided while braces are on. Also, acidic foods such as citrus fruits, vinegar, and tomato-based products can increase the risk of eroding dental enamel and should be consumed cautiously. If dairy is excluded from your diet, it is important to maintain adequate consumption of both vitamin D and calcium. These vitamins and minerals can be found in soy yogurt, beans, lentils, peas, seaweed, spinach, kale, cabbage, broccoli, okra, Bok choy, Brussel sprouts, mushrooms, tofu, and oranges.

Quick Fixes for Common Braces Complications

Keeping your teeth clean with braces will help prevent oral issues and enhance the success of your treatment. To avoid bacterial plaque build-up on your teeth, gums, and around your braces, you should make sure you are regularly brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist throughout your orthodontic treatment. You should brush after every meal and before going to sleep. If you are unable to brush after a meal on-the-go, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water until you can brush again. An electric toothbrush can be very effective and efficient in removing dental plaque around braces and on your teeth. You may need to brush a little longer than the traditional two minutes to ensure all food particles are removed. Use a fluoride-containing toothpaste to help protect your tooth enamel.

Flossing is essential for removing bacteria between your teeth and underneath the gum line. Orthodontic floss threaders or Super Floss, like Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Threader Floss, are special-made to make flossing easy for individuals with braces and other oral appliances. When you are done with your oral hygiene routine, inspect your teeth to make sure they are clean and that none of the braces are loose or broken.

Stay Proactive with Your Orthodontic Care

Having braces requires commitment. Make sure to keep all of your orthodontic appointments to avoid harming your teeth and increasing your treatment time. Be sure to follow all of your orthodontist’s instructions regarding your treatment. If you experience any problems, like a broken bracket, inform your orthodontist right away. If you have any questions or concerns about your braces, even regarding dietary advice, let your orthodontist know. If you are interested in perfecting your smile, Great Lakes Family Dental offers exceptional comprehensive orthodontic care for your entire family. Schedule an appointment for a consultation today at one of our convenient locations.

Quick Review

If you will soon have or are new to getting braces, you may be asking, ‘what can you eat with braces?’ There is a universal list of common approved foods and foods to avoid with braces. Foods that are hard, sticky, extra chewy, acidic, and high in sugars can damage your teeth, gums, and even your braces. Being mindful choosing what foods to eat while you have braces on is important for successful treatment and a healthy smile.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Types of Food Should Be Avoided While Wearing Braces and Retainers?

In general, foods that are hard, sticky, and chewy should be avoided while wearing braces. These types of foods can break your braces or wires and become trapped between your teeth and around your braces, leading to tooth decay and damage. You should avoid foods including popcorn, nuts, chewing gum, candy, crunchy fruits and vegetables (carrots, apples, pears, celery), hard bread (bagels, pretzels, pizza crust), chips, taco shells, crackers, ice, and corn on the cob.

What Are the Low-Effort Chewing Foods for Braces Wearers?

Foods that are soft require minimal effort chewing, which can be beneficial for braces wearers after they are initially placed. This includes potatoes, smoothies, cooked noodles, soft vegetables, rice, soft-cooked meats, eggs, and hot cereals.

How Can I Eat with Braces Without Experiencing Pain?

You may initially experience slight discomfort when eating after braces are initially placed or tightened. Fortunately, this discomfort typically resolves on its own after a few hours to days. Eating soft foods that don’t require much chewing effort can help prevent discomfort during these time periods.

Is It Possible to Eat Chips with Braces?

Chips should be avoided while wearing braces. Chips can damage your braces and cause broken or disfigured brackets and wires. Ultimately, this leads to additional treatment time and extra emergency visits to your orthodontist.

What Are the Best Foods to Eat on the First Day with Braces?

Great foods to eat on your first day with braces are those that are soft in consistency and don’t require much chewing. For example, yogurt, oatmeal, soft fruits and vegetables, scrambled eggs, soups, pasta, potatoes, and soft seafood.

How Often Should I Brush My Teeth If I Have Braces?

In general, everyone should brush their teeth at least twice a day for two minutes each session. When you have braces, it is recommended to brush your teeth after every meal and snack, and before going to bed. Dental plaque can easily build up on your teeth and around your braces, which is why more frequent tooth brushing is recommended. This helps reduce your likelihood of developing tooth decay, gum inflammation, and other oral issues.

Is It Safe to Eat Sugary Foods While Wearing Braces?

The more you consume sugar while wearing braces, the higher your chances are for developing white spots or early tooth decay around your braces. This can permanently damage and stain your tooth enamel and create the appearance of chalky white squares once the braces are removed. Sugar is turned into acids by bacteria in the mouth, which progressively breaks down your teeth.

My braces hurt so much that I can't eat. What should I do?

You may experience some discomfort after your braces are tightened, which can make eating challenging. Over-the-counter oral anesthetic agents like Orajel can be placed on sensitive teeth and gums to alleviate discomfort. Also try eating soft foods that don’t require much chewing. Speak with your dentist to determine if other options, like over-the-counter pain medication, is advised.