People with braces know the struggle of picking the right foods to eat. They have to, of course, consider their health and then, they have to be conscious of their braces, too.
Although braces have become sturdier with modern technology, it’s still important to be careful not to damage them. Certain foods can damage braces components like the rubber bands, wires, or even the bracket itself. Generally, avoid all foods that are sticky, hard, or chewy. Soft foods are most recommended for those who wear braces because they are gentler on braces hardware.
Here are some foods you should avoid when wearing braces:
Popcorn
Nuts
Hard taco shells
Sticky and hard candy
Gum
Ice
Corn chips
Pretzels
Hard cookies or crackers
Sticky or hard chocolate
For some foods, you should try to avoid biting into hard foods with your front teeth. When possible, cut up these hard foods into smaller pieces:
Raw vegetables
Croutons
French/Italian bread
Fruit
Hard rolls
Thin crust pizza
Meat
Burgers
Sub sandwiches
Corn on the cob
Recommended foods when wearing braces:
Hull-less popcorn
Yogurt
Bananas, grapes, oranges, strawberries, and other fruits without pits
Light crackers or cookies
Cheese
Mashed potatoes
Peanut butter and jelly
Ravioli, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, and other noodle dishes