Although patients are able to eat or drink many foods while in orthodontic treatment, certain eating habits are known to cause breakage of orthodontic appliances and braces as well as increasing the risk of dental problems. Our aim is to allow our patients to achieve their treatment goals while minimizing disturbances from appliance breakage, poor food choices, and poor oral hygiene. Remember, teeth move their best in a healthy environment and in individuals with excellent overall dental heath. Patient cooperation is the KEY to successful orthodontics.
What foods should I avoid?
Food and drink that may cause dental decay should be restricted while wearing braces. Sticky foods are to be avoided because of the increased risk of dental decay and appliance breakage. These foods stick to your braces and remain on your teeth for long periods of time. If foods or drinks high in sugar content are to be consumed, we advise having them with regular meals or at one given time of day. Please make sure that careful brushing and rinsing take place immediately afterwards. Snacks should be confined to foods without refined sugar and should be followed by brushing or vigorous rinsing if a toothbrush is unavailable.
Wearing braces limits the foods that you are permitted to eat. Eating improper foods can bend and distort wires causing treatment delays and extra visits for repairs. In general, hard, brittle, crunchy, and sticky foods should NOT be eaten during orthodontic treatment. Hard crunchy foods can bend and break the braces and wires, while sticky foods may loosen them. Certain foods may be eaten if they are prepared in a special way. Whole fruits and vegetables or any raw foods such as apples, celery, and carrots should be sliced and eaten carefully. Hard crusty breads should be broken and eaten in small pieces. Corn may be eaten if sliced off the cob.
Do not suck on lemons or limes (citric acid in juice can dissolve tooth enamel) and especially do not suck or chew ice cubes. Chewing ice cubes can be very destructive to your appliances and teeth. Keep fingernails, pencils, and other objects out of your mouth. Do not put anything in your mouth that may tend to bend, break, pry, pull, or knock off the braces. Popcorn can cause harm in multiple ways. The husks from the popcorn can become lodged beneath the braces and cause irritation of the gum tissue. Unpopped kernels can shear or break off brackets or bend or dislodge wires.
For more information about foods to avoid, click here.
For more information about sound dental practices, click here.
