Foods To Avoid With Braces

For most of us, we try to eat healthily but don’t tend to think about the texture of the foods we eat. However, there are certain foods to avoid with braces. While this can seem frustrating, avoiding these foods can make a tremendous difference in the effectiveness of your braces.

In most cases, common sense will dictate what foods to avoid with braces to keep them in the best shape. As a general rule, however, try to avoid hard and sticky foods and those that are high in sugar, since these are especially hard on various parts of braces. These are known to disrupt the improvement of your teeth and orthodontic care. In particular, Dr. Steven Ricci advises patients to exercise caution with the specific foods below.

STICKY FOODS TO AVOID WITH BRACES

  • Gum (sugar-free or regular)
  • Licorice
  • Sugar Daddies
  • Toffee
  • Tootsie Rolls
  • Caramels
  • Starburst

HARD FOODS TO AVOID WITH BRACES

  • Ice
  • Nuts
  • Hard taco shells
  • French bread crust and rolls
  • Corn on the cob
  • Apples (unless cut into small pieces)
  • Bagels
  • Chips
  • Jolly Ranchers
  • Pizza crust
  • Uncooked carrots (unless cut into small pieces)

MINIMIZE THESE SUGARY FOODS

  • Cake
  • Ice Cream
  • Cookies
  • Pie
  • Candy

ENJOY THESE TREATS ONCE A DAY (DO NOT DRINK THESE WITH INVISALIGN ALIGNERS IN YOUR MOUTH)

  • Soda
  • Sweetened tea
  • Gatorade
  • Kool-Aid
  • Drinks with sugar

It is important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. Should a loose or broken wire or bracket occur, call or text Ricci Orthodontics at 678-417-9848 immediately to schedule an emergency appointment. You are welcome to arrange a visit with our orthodontist at any time if you have questions or concerns about foods to avoid with braces. You can also call to learn more about our orthodontic services and how they can benefit you.