Foods You Can and Shouldn’t Eat if You Have Braces

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(Newswire.net — November 11, 2021) –Dental braces help align or straighten your teeth. Your Edmonton orthodontist may recommend braces for dental issues like overbite, underbite, gapped teeth, or other bite issues.

The time to get your teeth to their desired position varies from patient to patient and depends on the severity of the case. During the treatment process, you may need to make some adjustments to your meals. There are certain foods that you should avoid because they may get stuck on your braces.

So what you can eat and what needs to be avoided while wearing your braces? 

Foods You Can Eat With Braces

Although braces are safe and they don’t hurt your mouth, it may take a few days for you to adjust to the new change says this dentist in Avon Lake. During the initial days of braces, your mouth may be sensitive. Therefore, you should avoid foods that are tough and hard to chew. 

Since you will need to adjust with the food you consume while wearing braces, your orthodontist will provide some guidelines on choosing your food. This will include picking soft foods over hard foods. 

After getting braces, you can eat foods like:

  • Soups
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Pasta
  • Moist desserts
  • Oatmeal
  • Seafood
  • Grains

If you want to eat fruits and vegetables, then choose soft ones. Basically, they should be easy to chew. After a few weeks, your orthodontist may recommend you to resume your typical meal plan. 

Foods You Should Not Eat Right After Getting Braces 

In addition to knowing the food you can eat, it is important to know which food needs to be avoided, especially right after getting your dental braces.

They include:

  • Thick meat 
  • Spicy foods 
  • Thick bread
  • Ice cream

These are some foods that you should not eat for a few days after getting your braces. Once you are adjusted to the treatment, your orthodontist will recommend you to resume eating these foods. 

Food To Avoid When You Have Braces

Ice cream and thick meats are some of the foods that you should not eat for a few days right after getting braces. Apart from that, there are some foods that are recommended to be avoided throughout your treatment. 

Usually, they are hard or sticky foods that stick to your braces and damage them. 

Foods that should be completely avoided are:

  • Ice
  • Nuts 
  • Pizza crust
  • Hard rolls
  • Chips 
  • Popcorns 
  • Crunchy foods, vegetables, and fruits 
  • Crackers 
  • Chewing gum 
  • Hard candies 

Also, you should cut back on sugary foods and beverages. It is because when sugar mixes with saliva in your mouth, the mixture creates a sticky film on your teeth. Although brushing can help get rid of the sticky film, it is a tough process with braces.

Maintaining Oral Health With Braces

You should develop healthy oral habits to avoid your braces getting damaged. Follow the guidelines suggested by your Edmonton orthodontist

Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and use a soft-bristled toothbrush. 

After every meal or eating something, check the space around your dental braces for food traces; remove them gently and carefully.

Apart from that, visit your orthodontist at regular intervals for follow-up visits. These appointments help examine if your braces are properly fitted and are moving your teeth in the right direction. In addition, if any changes need to be made to your treatment, the orthodontist will let you know about it.