Best Food to Eat With Braces: A Guide to Protecting Your Smile

If you are wondering what food to eat with braces, the good news is that you can still enjoy most of your favorite meals with minor adjustments. Getting braces is a significant investment of time and money, and while the end result is exciting, it is natural to research what to know about braces to understand how they will affect your daily life. Braces have brackets and wires—places where food can easily get caught. To protect your hardware, which creates pressure to realign your teeth, focus on soft, non-sticky, and non-crunchy foods, and always cut hard items into bite-sized pieces.

The Best Food to Eat With Braces

Because braces create areas where food can easily get trapped, choosing the right texture is key to preventing hardware damage or decay. Here are the best options:

• Dairy: Yogurt, milk, and soft cheeses are excellent, braces-friendly choices.
• Grains: Rice, pasta, and oatmeal are soft and safe. If eating bread or bagels, avoid those with nuts, steer clear of hard or chewy crusts, and cut them into small pieces.
• Proteins: Eggs, chicken, beef, tofu, fish, and pork are all acceptable. Ensure meats are tender and cut into manageable bites.
• Fruits & Vegetables: Soft fruits are fine, but hard produce like apples or raw carrots must be cooked or sliced into small, manageable pieces before eating.

Foods to Avoid With Braces

Certain foods can bend wires, pop off brackets, or cause decay. Avoid unhealthy food that can compromise your orthodontic progress.

• Hard & Crunchy: Popcorn (due to kernels), nuts, and tortilla chips. These pose a high risk of fracturing brackets or bending archwires.
• Sticky & Chewy: Taffy, caramel, and other types of sticky candy. These substances can pull at orthodontic hardware and are difficult to remove from between wires.
• Direct Biting: Never bite directly into whole apples or corn on the cob; use a utensil to remove kernels or slice fruit first.
• Sugary Items: Limit sugary snacks and drinks. Sugar leads to plaque build-up on your braces, causing white spot lesions (decalcification) and decay.

Maintaining Oral Health With Braces

Caring for your teeth while you have braces requires extra attention. Prioritize consistent dental care for braces at home and keep up with your dental and orthodontist appointments. There is a special way to brush and floss (also referred to as interdental cleaning). Brush the gumline at a 45-degree angle, and ensure you clean both the top and bottom of each bracket. When flossing, use a floss threader to navigate between the wires effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I eat pizza with braces?

Yes, but avoid the hard, crispy crust. It is best to cut the pizza into small, bite-sized pieces rather than biting directly into the slice.

Is chewing gum allowed?

No, chewing gum is not recommended as it is sticky and can easily get tangled in your wires and brackets.

What should I do if my mouth is sore?

It is normal to experience soreness after adjustments. Stick to soft, easy-to-chew foods like yogurt, soup, or mashed potatoes until the sensitivity subsides, which typically lasts 24 to 48 hours.

Why is it important to avoid hard foods?

Hard foods can snap wires or break the cement holding your brackets to your teeth, which may lead to broken wires or decay, potentially extending your treatment time.