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What You Can’t Eat With Braces (And What You Can)

Excerpt: It's fairly well known that braces can make common daily tasks somewhat more difficult...
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It’s fairly well known that braces can make common daily tasks somewhat more difficult. Eating will definitely be one of those activities that are made more difficult. There are things you can do, however, to make braces more tolerable to wear.

What You Can’t (Or Shouldn’t) Eat With Braces

There are a few foods that are not compatible with braces, here they are:

 

  • 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
 
Even though you technically can eat these foods with braces on, you should definitely reconsider doing so. You can run the risk of these foods getting stuck in your teeth which will promote decay, or you can even wreck your braces.
doughnuts in bakery

What Can I Eat With Braces?

After your teeth adjust to your braces, chewing may be more manageable and will cause less discomfort. Your teeth may also become less sensitive to temperature if you are experiencing sensitivity.


Here are some soft foods that are safe to eat with braces:


  • Soups
  • Smoothies
  • Scrambled eggs
  • Yogurt, ice cream, and other soft dairy products
  • Oatmeal, pasta, and other soft cereal products
  • Soft vegetables, such as mashed potatoes
  • Soft fruits, such as bananas
 

You should stick to these types of foods when you first start wearing your braces. Chances are, your teeth will be sensitive and may even be in some discomfort. 


After you are more acclimated to wearing your braces you can begin to introduce more foods into your diet:


  • Chewier cuts of meat
  • Soft bread
  • Citrus fruits
 
Try to notice any increased levels of discomfort when reintroducing these foods, if you do experience discomfort, you should wait a few more weeks.
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How To Eat With Braces

When you initially get your braces, your mouth will most likely be more sensitive than it usually feels. This is because your teeth aren’t used to the extra pressure that is applied by the braces.

 

  • Continue to avoid hard and/or sticky foods
  • Take small, careful bites
  • Chew slowly
  • Cut chewy foods into smaller pieces to make them easier to chew
  • Avoid pizza crusts
  • Don’t eat meat off the bone
 

Braces are relatively expensive, and if you break a wire, the pressure will be released, this means the braces will have to be fixed, and you will prolong the treatment unnecessarily.

How To Keep Your Braces Tight

You will want to keep your braces as tight as they should be the entire time you’re wearing them, while you probably can’t adjust them yourself, issues like food particles can get stuck in them and loosen the fit:

 

  • Brush and floss regularly to keep up with oral hygiene
  • Follow your orthodontist’s instructions
  •  Wear a mouthguard if you want to keep your braces protected while playing contact sports
  •  Contact your orthodontist as soon as possible if any problems occur or if you have concerns
 

The longer your teeth stay tight, the faster your treatment will be over. Following these instructions should be of high priority while you have your braces in.

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Are There Different Types Of Braces?

Conventional Braces

Modern conventional braces consist of metal brackets and wires around the teeth. Generally, it will just be one bracket per tooth, and one wire per upper or lower jaw. Braces are the most trusted way to change the positioning of the teeth.

Aligners

Aligners have been used for decades now, they can take longer to complete treatment than conventional braces. Aligners are best used for less severe adjustments. The main benefit is the ability to be removed by the patient, although they should be in your mouth for at least 22 hours or longer every day.

Self-Ligating Braces

These braces do away with the elastic bands that are in braces and just use a small wire that connects to a bracket on the tooth.

Lingual Braces

These braces are similar to conventional braces, except the bracket is placed on the back of the tooth instead of the front

If your adjustments are minor, and you don’t mind a slightly longer treatment duration then clear aligners may be a good fit for you.

Cost Of Braces

For the majority of patients, braces will typically cost up to $5,000. This price includes the braces, and all of the following procedures, i.e. x-rays, scans, post-procedure monitoring, etc. Since braces take months for the treatment to be completed, it is easy to see why they are thousands of dollars.
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