Getting your braces and starting the journey to your new smile is exciting. It may seem like a lot to remember when maintaining your new braces, but rest assured! It’s easier than you think if you keep a few rules in mind. Brushing and flossing daily so your teeth and gums stay healthy throughout your treatment is important. It’s also essential to keep your braces safe. That means eating the right foods.
Appel Orthodontics wants your treatment to be a complete success. We’ll encourage you throughout your treatment and show you the best ways to care for your teeth and braces. We’ll let you know the right foods to eat to make sure your braces stay intact, and we’ll be there for you should anything happen to damage them. Let’s start with the best things to eat while wearing braces.
5 Best Foods to Eat the First Week With Braces
Your mouth can be a little sore your first week with braces. That’s because teeth that haven’t been moving are suddenly being told to move, and they may not be happy about it. After the first couple of days, the discomfort will fade as your mouth gets used to your new braces.
Sticking to soft and liquid foods can minimize discomfort during the first week with braces. Here are some foods you can try that first week.
- Mashed potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Smoothies or protein shakes
- Cottage cheese
- Soups (without large meat and vegetables)
You can also try foods like applesauce and yogurt for something sweet. The key is to stick with liquid or soft foods the first week because your teeth likely will be sore. Still, it’s important to eat and maintain your nutrition. After the first week, you’ll be able to go back to the foods you love.
5 Best Foods to Eat With Braces
Once you get used to your braces, you can resume eating normally. Well, almost. There are foods to avoid when eating with braces, but we’ll get to those following. Let’s stick to the positive! Here are some foods you can eat with your braces.
- Meat cut into bite sizes
- Soft, cooked vegetables
- Soft dairy products
- Soft breads and pastries
- Cakes and soft desserts
Yes, you can have dessert with braces! See, that’s not so bad, right? The key is to make sure you take small bites and don’t eat anything too hard. You can still enjoy many of the foods you love with braces.
Once you’re done eating, brushing your teeth immediately is a good idea. That way, the food particles don’t have a chance to get deeper into and around your brackets, making them harder to get out later. Brushing and flossing with braces can be more challenging, so tooth decay and gum disease are a concern. Brushing your teeth after every meal helps ensure your teeth stay healthy throughout your treatment.
5 Worst Foods to Eat With Braces
There are foods you will need to avoid with braces. These foods can damage your braces by breaking wires or causing brackets to loosen or pop off your teeth. Your braces are tough — don’t get us wrong! They are made to withstand a lot. But even wires and metal brackets have a tough time standing up to a Jolly Rancher or hard taco shells.
Good news! These foods to avoid are only TEMPORARY. Once your braces are off, you can return to eating these foods. However, many no-no foods are considered “junk” foods, and you may enjoy eating healthier.
- Hard foods like hard candies, ice, nuts, or raw vegetables
- Chewy foods like bagels, chewing gum, pizza crust (pizza is OK!), and caramels
- Sticky foods like gummy bears, taffy, and caramel apples
- Front-bite foods like corn on the cob, hard cheeses, raw apples, and raw pears
- Crunchy foods like tortilla chips, hard taco shells, pretzels, hard crackers, and popcorn
Again, you only have to avoid these foods while in braces. Once your braces are off, you can return to munching on popcorn and chewing gum. That’s if you want to go back. Wearing your braces may be a good opportunity to develop healthier eating habits. You may be surprised at the foods you enjoy while wearing braces!
Eating Right With Braces in Philadelphia, PA
Eating with braces isn’t as tricky as it may seem. You can still enjoy many of the foods you love now. Avoid the foods on the “no-no” list for now. Damage to your braces can be costly and can delay your treatment. No one wants that, right?
Appel Orthodontics is ready for you if you’re ready to get started with braces treatment! Schedule an appointment with us, and we can bring you in for a consultation to determine the best treatment. We can have you smiling with a new smile in no time!
