Braces can sometimes feel restricting. Who wouldn’t feel a little held back with metal in their mouth? However, that beautiful smile you know you will get to show everyone makes it all worth it. In order to get to that smile the fastest and easiest way possible, it’s necessary to take care when it comes to what foods you eat or don’t eat. This may sound like just another thing to keep track of in your or your child’s life, but in the end it can save you from doing damage to your braces, which would have kept you from that smile even longer.
What can’t you eat?
When it comes to what to eat with braces, it’s much easier to figure out what to avoid. The list is not that long! The main thing to keep in mind is that if you find yourself wondering if a food is okay to eat with braces, you probably should not eat it. Better safe than sorry definitely applies here. To give yourself a general idea of what not to eat, follow these guidelines:
No sticky or chewy food: as tempting as they are, a lot of candies are off limits. Stay away from things with caramel and gummy textures. Gum is a BIG no!
No hard food: hard candies and nuts, for example, can do a lot of damage to thin wires.
No biting into tough food: apples, carrots, and corn on the cob will tear up your braces. We don’t want any dislodged metal in that mouth! You may still have these foods by substituting them with applesauce, steamed carrots, and corn that has been cut off the cob.
No crunchy food: popcorn is your worst nightmare when it comes to braces. Avoid it and other crunchy food like chips or ice.
How to take care of your braces post-meal
It’s always important to make sure your teeth stay clean after you eat, but with braces it is particularly important and a little more difficult. Make sure that you brush and floss your teeth after you eat to keep scraps out of the nooks and crannies of your braces. Flossing may seem difficult with all those wires, but it will get easier with time. Without proper cleaning, your teeth can end up damaged if food sits on them, unmoved.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Dr. Marc S. Wright at (404) 507-2078 with locations in Atlanta and Marietta, GA.
