Diet during orthodontic treatment

Eating with braces and what should you look out for? Wearing braces is also a challenge in regard to the food you eat; you cannot eat everything anymore, as getting the occlusion or bite corrected causes discomfort and eating can be a bit of a painful activity, not to mention the fact that food tends to get stuck between the braces and the brackets. The softer the food and the smaller the mouthfuls, the less likely you are to hurt yourself. So what are good and bad foods for someone with braces and what are the alternatives?

To prevent braces from separating from teeth it is important to avoid sticky and hard foods. Hard food may also bend the arch between the braces. Chewing of pens and pencils may break the braces. Special care is to be taken with chicken wings and ribs.

Foods to be avoided:

• toffees
• chewing gum
• pop corn
• nuts
• carrot, apple, turnip (unless cut into small pieces or grated)
• caramels
• crusty bread, crisp bread

Avoid fruit and vegetables, which are hard to bite even without braces. You do not have to give them up, but you can cut them into smaller pieces. A better way is to boil or steam them to make them softer and safer for the braces.

White and black breads with a hard crust can cause a lot of pain if you have just gotten your braces or have had them adjusted. Therefore, prefer softer pastries and breads. Speaking of nuts and seeds, although they are very good for health, they pose quite a risk for braces as these foods get stuck between them. They can also cause pain. To get the necessary fats, it is advisable to replace nuts with avocado, which is soft and safe. Definitely avoid candy, especially fruit gum candies, which are sugar-coated. Sugar granules also tend to get stuck between braces and the sugar can cause bacteria to proliferate.

If the braces come loose

If a brace has come loose from the tooth, contact your orthodontist. Usually, the braces stay attached to the arch wire, but if a brace or tube comes loose from the arch, take it with you to your next visit. Orthodontic treatment is prolonged if braces come loose often.

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