Getting new braces can be an exciting change! Wearing braces can relieve jaw pain, improve digestion, prevent tooth decay and gum disease, straighten teeth, and improve your smile.
But in the process of planning to receive these benefits, many ask, “Will I be able to eat normally?”
The Simple Answer: Yes
The good news is that there is plenty of food to choose from that’s suitable for your new lifestyle of wearing braces. You’ll simply need to be careful about what you eat.
Focus on foods that are softer, that won’t cause you to break a wire, lose a bracket or get your braces filled with sticky stuff, such as:
- Grains: pasta and soft-cooked rice
- Fish and seafood: tuna, codfish, salmon, crab cakes
- Dairy: soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks, yogurt, cottage cheese
- Eggs
- Soft breads: pancakes, soft tortillas, muffins
- Fruits: soft fruits like applesauce, bananas, sliced fruits, berries (without seeds)
- Soft meats: soft cooked chicken and turkey, lunch meats, chopped or ground hamburger
- Vegetables: mashed potatoes, soft cooked or steamed beans, corn (off the cob), steamed spinach
- Desserts: ice cream, milkshakes, Jell-O, plain chocolates, soft cookies, soft brownies or cake
As you eat, don’t skimp on the nourishing requirements for your teeth and body, including getting enough protein, calcium, iron and fiber.
Avoid These Things
Things you want to avoid while wearing new braces are:
- Hard crunchy foods like popcorn (the kernels are really bad) and chips.
- Ice (you can drink with ice, just don’t chew ice).
- Really chewy foods like hard breads and pizza.
- Tough meats including steak and jerky.
- Nuts.
- Raw fruits and vegetables.
- Things you bite into like apples and corn on the cob.
- Sticky foods, like many candies, caramel and gum.
Tips for Care and Maintenance
While using your new braces, there are things you can do to practice good care and maintenance.
The main two are brushing your teeth frequently—after every meal and snack, using a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste—and flossing daily.
You also can practice rinsing out your mouth with water after every sugary item consumed. Also, try to regularly make sure your brackets look clean and shiny. Watch out for any loose brackets, wires or bands.
Choose an Expert Orthodontist You Can Rely On
Contact Reese Orthodontics, the Smile People, based in Charleston, S.C., for superb dental care.
Over 11,000 people have trusted Reese Orthodontics to transform their smiles and their lives. Great options. Great service. Great results.