Braces-Friendly Eating: What to Avoid & What to Enjoy
Starting your braces journey? Keeping your braces in great shape means making smart food choices! Certain foods can damage brackets and wires, leading to extra visits and delays in treatment. But don’t worry—there are plenty of delicious, braces-friendly options to enjoy.
Foods to Avoid with Braces
To keep your braces intact, steer clear of these troublemakers:
Sticky & Chewy Foods – Gum, caramel, taffy, and chewy candies can get stuck in your braces and pull off brackets.
Hard & Crunchy Foods – Popcorn, nuts, hard pretzels, ice, and raw veggies (like carrots) can break brackets or bend wires.
Chewy Breads – Bagels, tough pizza crusts, and dense rolls can be difficult to bite into.
Sugary Treats – Limit candy, soda, and other sugary snacks to avoid plaque buildup around brackets.
Eating these foods increases the risk of broken brackets and cavities, which can slow down your treatment progress and lead to extra visits for repairs.
Braces-Friendly Foods
Good news! There are plenty of tasty options that are safe for your braces:
Soft Fruits & Veggies – Bananas, berries, steamed veggies, and cooked sweet potatoes are easy to eat.
Dairy & Protein – Yogurt, cheese, scrambled eggs, and tender meats like shredded chicken or fish.
Soft Grains & Pasta – Rice, oatmeal, soft tortillas, and pasta are great choices.
Smoothies & Soft Snacks – Applesauce, pudding, mashed potatoes, and smoothies make for easy, braces-safe treats.
Choosing braces-friendly foods will help protect your brackets while keeping your teeth and gums healthy throughout treatment.
Pro Tips for Eating with Braces
✔ Cut food into small bites—avoid biting directly into apples, sandwiches, or corn on the cob.
✔ Chew with your back teeth to avoid putting too much pressure on your brackets.
✔ Rinse or brush after meals to keep your teeth and braces clean.
Eating with braces doesn’t mean missing out — it just takes a little adjustment. Stick with braces-friendly foods, and you’ll be on your way to a smooth, successful treatment!