Treatments
Eating with Braces
Do I Have to Be Extra Careful When I Have Braces?
Yes. Although there are many factors that determine how long you have to wear braces (case difficulty, rate of tooth movement through bone, adequate nutrition, etc.) the most frequent complication that prolongs orthodontic treatment is loose or broken brackets and wires. Most patients progress through treatment with only one or two broken brackets. Unfortunately a loose bracket or broken wire that goes unnoticed or ignored can actually delay treatment for 3-6 months. Inspecting your braces after every meal and notifying Dr. Roberts or the orthodontic staff of any broken appliances immediately will keep you on time to finish your treatment.
Hard, crunchy, crusty, or sticky foods are most frequently responsible for breaking appliances; however, improper brushing techniques or oral habits like biting on pens, pencils, sewing needles, etc can do almost as much damage.
Foods to Avoid While You Have Braces
In addition to the following list of no-no foods, please be aware that you must eat foods differently when you have braces. Instead of biting into sandwiches, apples, carrots, or pizza with your front teeth, you must train yourself to cut or tear your food apart and place it onto your back teeth for chewing.
The following list is not all-inclusive. If you’re not sure whether or not you should eat a particular food, use common sense or call/email us, if you want.
The No-No List of Foods:
| Hard/Brittle | Crunchy | Crusty | Sticky/Gooey |
| Ice | Potato Chips | Pizza Crusts | Caramels |
| Nuts- Peanuts, Almonds | Tortilla Chips | Toasted Bagels/Breads | Chewing Gum |
| Jolly Rancher Candies | Fried Chicken | Apples with Front Teeth | Starburst |
| Pens and Pencils | Fried Oysters | Fresh Carrots | Sugar Daddies |
| Snickers or similar | Pretzels | Kaiser Dinner Rolls | Jelly Beans |
| Corn on the Cob | Hard Taco Shells | Popcorn | Licorice |
Beverages to Avoid While You Have Braces
High sugar or acidic drinks can cause cavities anytime, especially when they have braces to stick on to. Please avoid all soda pop (Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Big Red, etc), juices that are high in sugar (Hi-C, Sunny-D, Kool-Aid, etc), and ultra-sweet teas to prevent cavities and permanent scarring of your enamel.
What can I eat if my teeth are sore?
Your teeth will be tender to biting pressure for about 3-5 days after you visit the orthodontist, particularly after your braces are first put on. You will quickly notice that soft foods like pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, and soup are easily tolerated, but a thick, chewy steak is not. There is no reason to torture yourself by trying to eat stiff or chewy foods. Steamed vegetables, fresh fruit, yogurt, and smoothies are soft enough to eat and ensure that you get enough vital nutrients to maintain a healthy diet.
