Learning to eat with your metal braces can be a bit challenging. But it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your favorite foods while wearing braces. While it’s true that some foods pose certain risks to your braces, there are still many foods you can continue to enjoy. By simply modifying your diet now, you can keep your treatment process with braces on track and avoid extra visits to your orthodontist’s office in Durham or Oxford, North Carolina (NC). Opting for a more careful approach to eating can help your braces work the way they are intended to.
So, How Do I Eat With My Metal Braces?
Certain types of foods can pose certain risks to your braces. Hard, sticky, and chewy foods may damage your braces. Poor food choices or improper preparation of food can lead to bent wires or popped brackets, which causes delays in your orthodontic treatment process. Here are some guidelines for making food choices that help you avoid these concerns.
| TRY TO AVOID | EAT WITH CAUTION | SAFER OPTIONS |
| Skittles, Starburst | bagels, pizza crust, hard fruit | steamed veggies |
| steak | (bagels, pizza, hard fruit cut into smaller pieces) | mashed potatoes |
| hard pretzels | ribs, chicken wings | ice cream, yogurt |
| popcorn | (for any meat remove meat from bone) | eggs, soft cheese |
| nuts, seeds (remove cob before eating) |
corn on the cob | crackers, raisins, caramal, licorce |
| croutons | soft tortillas | meatballs |
| chunky peanut butter | spaghetti | pasta, rice,milkshakes |
How Can I Eat What I Love Without Harming My Braces?
- Cut or break up foods: Biting into hard foods, like raw carrots, celery, or apples, may cause your brace wires to break, or pop off a bracket. Cutting them into smaller pieces and using your back teeth makes chewing a whole lot easier.
- Choose softer foods: Certain hard, crunchy, and chewy foods can be a challenge to eat with braces. Soft fruits, grains, and meats can be easier to eat during orthodontic treatment.
- Eat slowly: Chewing slowly and carefully can help you prevent damage to your braces.
- Invest in a brace-friendly cookbook: There are recipe books online (on sites like Amazon) that provide a brace-safe snack and meal ideas to help you avoid orthodontic concerns.
With some minor adjustments, a little planning, and some creativity, you can continue to eat well and enjoy the foods you love during your time in braces.
Read more food tips from the official American Dental Association page here.
This information is not meant as medical advice. It is provided solely for education. Our practice would be pleased to discuss your unique circumstances and needs as they relate to these topics.
Wilson Orthodontics
Durham & Oxford, NC’s Top Rated Orthodontist For Braces
Orthodontist, Dr. Wilson of Wilson Orthodontics offers the most advanced braces for children and adults, including metal braces, Invisalign clear aligners, SureSmile, and other orthodontic treatments.
Contact us today for a complimentary consultation for braces at either of our orthodontic offices conveniently located in Durham and Oxford, North Carolina (NC).