Introduction

 Conscious of protecting your new smile, are you struggling to adjust your eating habits? Ensuring that your diet is braces-friendly is vital to protect your braces from damage, and to prevent you from experiencing any discomfort.¹ Braces, while effective in aligning teeth, can also pose challenges when eating certain foods. To understand how you should plan your meals with braces, let’s go through some of the challenges you need to be aware of when eating with braces. 

Understanding the challenges

Braces can cause discomfort when eating 

Sticky, hard, and crunchy food scan get stuck in your teeth can very easily. This can lead to damage by dislodging your braces, which can be painful and might require an emergency trip to your orthodontist. 

Softer foods are less likely to get stuck in your braces and less likely to cause you any discomfort or concern. It’s a good idea to avoid buying problematic foods such as chewing gum, as you are less likely to reach for it when you are at home. Ensure that you are hydrated by drinking plenty of water, to wash away any small pieces of food that may get stuck in your teeth. The wires of braces are the most easily damaged, and sticky foods can trap the wire and loosen it or even pull it out as you chew.

Foods to avoid

When wearing braces, it's best to avoid sticky and chewy foods like caramel and chewing gum, as well as hard and crunchy foods such as hard-boiled sweets, nuts, and popcorn. 

Sugary and acidic foods like carbonated drinks can corrode the metal brackets in your braces and increase your risk of developing a cavity. Hence, it’s really important to keep up with your oral hygiene by brushing your teeth and flossing regularly. Your dentist or orthodontist may provide you with small angular brushes that help you keep those hard-to-reach places nice and clean. 

Getting your braces put on does require some adjustment, but the effort you put in to maintain your oral health by being more mindful of your food choices will be more than worth it further down the line.

Braces-friendly alternatives

As mentioned earlier, soft foods are a better alternative while wearing braces as they are easy to chew and swallow. These can include: 

• Soft cheeses
• Soup
• Yoghurt
• Pasta
• Noodles
• Mashed or boiled potatoes
• Eggs

To get your protein in, you can also opt for softer meats that do not contain any bones, such as meatballs, chicken breasts, and fish cakes.² If you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, opt for sweet pancakes, muffins, ice cream, or jelly instead of hard sweets as these softer alternatives are less likely to cause damage. 

Tips for eating with braces

Proper chewing techniques to prevent discomfort

Cutting your food into smaller pieces will make it easier to swallow. For larger pieces, try to chew your food using your back teeth and refrain from using your front teeth to bite directly into hard foods e.g., apples. This will help to protect your braces from becoming damaged. 

Food particles can easily get stuck in your braces, leading to plaque buildup and potential tooth decay. It’s a good idea to rinse your mouth with water after every meal to wash away any stubborn food particles that may be lodged in your teeth or under your braces. 

Remember, eating with braces requires some adjustments to your diet, but it’s only temporary, with most people only needing to wear their braces for 1-2.5 years.³ Stick to these tips, take care of your braces, and soon enough, you’ll be able to enjoy all your favourite chewy, sticky, hard, and crunchy foods again with a new smile.

FAQ’s

Can I eat crisps with braces?

Yes, but you must consider the texture of your favourite crisps. As tempting as it is to reach for your favourite crunchy crisps, opting for softer options like baked crisps instead of fried ones can be beneficial for protecting your wires from dislodging. Baked crisps are typically softer and less crunchy, so you can feel confident when you choose baked crisps such as Pringles or Wotsits. We recommend staying away from fried crisps, such as Kettle-cooked and crispy tortilla crisps which can get stuck in between your brace wires and possibly bend them.⁴

Can I eat pizza with braces?

Yes, but you need to be mindful of the type of pizza you choose as well as the toppings. Thin crust is often the best choice as it is typically softer than regular crusts and is therefore safe to consume while wearing braces. Also consider using a knife and fork when eating pizza as it will encourage you to take smaller bites, which will help to reduce any damage that larger pieces of food may cause.⁵ Avoiding chewy toppings such as steak and stringy toppings like extra gooey cheese. 

Can I eat McDonalds with braces?

Yes, there are plenty of braces-friendly options to eat at McDonalds. Make sure you stick to softer meal options such as chicken nuggets or a McFlurry to minimise damage to your braces. 

What can I eat for breakfast with braces?

There are plenty of braces-friendly options for breakfast. We recommend soft and nutritious foods such as scrambled eggs, pancakes, yoghurt, smoothies, or even croissants. It’s good practice to get into the habit of rinsing your mouth with water after your meals to reduce the chance of food getting stuck in your braces or the gaps in your teeth.

When will braces stop hurting?

It takes some time to adjust to your braces, but most discomfort is usually resolved within a week of getting them on or having them adjusted.⁶ If you are really struggling or you notice any damage to your braces, contact your dentist or orthodontist as soon as possible.

If your braces are rubbing against the inside of your cheeks or under your lips, your orthodontist may give you some orthodontic wax that creates a barrier between your braces and your mouth. To use the orthodontic wax, just roll a small ball of wax between your fingers and press it onto the exact place that’s causing you discomfort, usually over a specific bracket or section of wire. 

Summary

Managing a braces-friendly diet means you need to prioritise choosing soft, easily chewable foods such as mashed potatoes, soups, and cooked vegetables to prevent any damage to your braces. It's crucial to avoid hard, sticky, or crunchy foods like nuts and chewing gum, which can cause your brackets to potentially dislodge and be painful until you can get them fixed. Additionally, regularly brushing your teeth, flossing, and attending all of your dental check-ups, as well as staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, helps prevent bits of food from building up between your braces and your teeth. Rinsing your mouth with water after you have eaten a meal is a good idea to ensure extra stubborn bits of food do not remain trapped in your teeth and cause tooth decay.