Life With Braces Is Easier Than You Might Think
Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It’s important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment. This page is dedicated to living with braces as well as a few tips and tricks. Learn below what foods to avoid and what foods are ok to eat with braces. As always, if you have any questions about taking care of your braces or have any issues, Dr. Gen and his team are always standing by to help; all you have to do is reach out.
Eating With Braces Is Easy
Don’t worry, you’ll be eating popcorn and snacking on potato chips again in no time! However, before you can start enjoying some of the treats you love, you will need to take special care to avoid any foods that could damage your new appliances.
Foods To Avoid
- Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
- Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
- Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum (sugar-free gum is okay)
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
- Foods you must bite into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Foods That You CAN Eat With Braces
- Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
- Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
- Grains — pasta, cooked rice
- Meats/poultry — cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
- Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
- Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
- Fruits — applesauce, bananas, sliced fruit, most berries (but watch out for seeds)
- Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, cake
