With the advancement in technology and materials become sturdier than ever, braces have become a great way to improve teeth positioning. However, even this time, it is still important to take care of your braces so they are not damaged. Something that is going to be with you for the next at least 18 months needs to be taken care of properly.
One of the major concerns that people with braces face is food restrictions. With different kinds of braces, there is a different level of structural complications involved. While a certain type of dental braces come with delicate metal wire, others come with rubber bands and ceramic brackets. As a precaution, a number of food items are either too hard on the braces or are too sticky and can cause a problem. These can damage the braces in many ways by either cracking, scratching, or displacing them.
So what food must be avoided in order to keep your braces safe and working in a fine condition? In simple words, you must avoid hard and sticky food for the sake of your braces. Also, sugary and acidic food/beverages must also be avoided while you have braces on. This is because sugar and saliva mix together to form plaque which is one of the primary reasons for tooth decay. While plaque can be tackled with brushing, but it becomes a little difficult to do with brushing. That is why it is safe to avoid them.
What Food To Avoid With Braces?
Here is a list of food items that a person with braces must avoid:
- Popcorn
- Any kind of nuts
- Ice
- Chewing Gum
- Candies, sticky, chewy, or hard
- Pizza, especially the crust
- Hard food rolls like Bagels etc.
- Any crunchy fruits or vegetables
- Cookies and hard biscuits
- Baked items
- Chips, fritters, or crisps
Apart from these restrictions that are going to stay with you for the rest of the duration that you have braces, there are certain food restrictions that you will follow right after you get braces. What may seem like safe food items can actually cause sensitivity and pressure on the mouth when you have just got braces. Here is a list of what food items to avoid when you have just got braces put on, or tightened.
- Ice cream
- Bread or thick food rolls
- Thick meat
- Spices and spicy food
- Food that contains citrus
What can a Person with Braces eat?
With such restrictions, you must be asking what can a person eat with braces. Well, the basic guideline is to only consume that is easy to chew. Doing this will not only be easy on your braces, but will also get rid of any sensitivity issues that may occur. Here is what to eat while you have your braces on.
- Mashed potatoes
- Yoghurt
- Soups
- Scrambled Eggs
- Oatmeal
- Grains
- Seafood
- Soft fruits
- Soft Cheese
- Soft, boiled, or cooked vegetables
- Soft and moist desserts
- Pasta
Braces are not just a treatment, but also a responsibility in itself. As much as they take care of you, they need care too. However, if you have transparent braces like Invisalign that can come off, you may need to be extra careful of what you eat to avoid damage directly to your teeth. Make sure you brush your teeth before putting them back on after a meal. If you were wondering what to avoid with braces, hope this piece helped you.
