Foods to Avoid With Braces
Some foods can pop a bracket loose or tug on your wires, and every breakage can delay your treatment. Here's Dr. Brieden's guide to what to skip, what to modify, and why it matters.
The List
What to Avoid (and What to Modify)
Avoid
Sticky Foods
Stay away from sticky, gummy, chewy foods that can tug on your wires:
Gum, caramel, taffy, licorice, gummy bears, Fruit Roll-Ups, Tootsie Rolls, Airheads ropes, Starburst, Milk Duds
Avoid
Hard Foods
Avoid hard foods that can pop a brace loose:
Ice cubes, hard pizza crust, hard bagels, beef jerky sticks, suckers, hard candies, Jolly Ranchers
Break apart Doritos, hard taco shells, and pita chips before eating.
Avoid
High-Acid Foods
No sucking on lemons, limes, or oranges. The acid is hard on your enamel while you're in treatment.
Choose Carefully
Candy Bars
Choose soft candy bars, and avoid any candy bars with nuts or toffee.
Limit
Pop & Soda
Limit sugar intake as much as possible while wearing braces. If you do have an occasional soda, rinse with water afterward.
Modify, Don't Skip
Raw Fruits & Vegetables
Cut raw fruits and vegetables into bite-sized pieces and chew with your back teeth, especially:
Apples, pears, carrots, celery, corn on the cob
Not Food, Still Counts
No Biting on Pens, Pencils, or Fingernails
Chewing on non-food objects is one of the most common ways brackets break. Hands (and pens) out of your mouth!
Why It Matters
Protect Your Braces, Speed Up Your Treatment
Each time a brace comes loose or a wire breaks, it can cause a delay in your treatment. By avoiding these foods and keeping your teeth and gums healthy with good brushing and flossing and oral hygiene, your orthodontic treatment will progress as planned, without unnecessary delay. That means your treatment may go faster.
Something break anyway? Call our office, or after hours text us at 810-334-9005, and see our emergency care guide.
Questions About Life With Braces?
From food to flossing, our team walks every patient through exactly how to protect their smile during treatment. We're always a call or text away.
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