Certain types of food must be avoided while in braces. Some other foods should be eaten carefully while in braces. Eating foods that are not compatible with braces can damage or dislodge them and lead to a longer treatment time. Here are a few guidelines to follow.
1. MOST HARD FOODS SHOULD NEVER BE EATEN. Hard foods are notorious for dislodging braces. Here are just a few examples of hard foods:
- Hard Candy
- Lemonheads
- Ice Cubes
- Fireballs
- Lollipops
- Large Nuts
- Jaw Breakers
- Jolly Ranchers
- Hard Pretzels
Some hard foods can be eaten if sliced into smaller pieces and chewed with your back teeth. These foods include fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots.
2. MOST CHEWY/STICKY FOODS SHOULD NEVER BE EATEN. These foods will also easily dislodge the braces. Any food that requires a lot of effort to chew will usually damage the braces. Here are a few examples:
- Sticky Candy
- Caramel
- Jelly Beans
- Starbursts
- Skittles
- Snickers
- Taffy
- Gummi Bears
- Chewing Gum
- Tootsie Rolls
- Licorice
- Bagels
3. Soft foods that must be stripped with the front teeth should be eaten differently. These foods should be cut into small pieces (or removed from the cob) before they are eaten.
- Corn on the Cob
- Ribs
- Chicken Wings
4. Popcorn should not be eaten when braces are on the teeth. Remnants of the popcorn shell frequently become lodged between the teeth and gums. These remnants can lead to severe pain and inflammation of the gums.
5. Inedible items that are habitually chewed can also damage the braces such as:
- Pens
- Pencils
- Finger Nails
IF A BRACKET OR ANY PART OF YOUR BRACES BECOMES DISLODGED IT IS IMPORTANT TO CALL OUR OFFICE TO REPORT THE PROBLEM (EVEN IF IT HAPPENS ON THE SAME DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT).
WE MAY NEED TO SCHEDULE A SPECIAL REPAIR VISIT OR PLAN FOR EXTRA TIME AT YOUR REGULAR APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR WORK (DEPENDING ON THE PROBLEM). ARRIVING WITH UNREPORTED REPAIRS CAN RESULT IN THE NEED TO RETURN FOR AN EXTRA REPAIR APPOINTMENT ON A DIFFERENT DAY.
