Foods to Avoid with Braces

Braces are often recommended by dentists or orthodontists to align or straighten out your teeth. It can also be used to treat other dental problems such as gaps, underbites, or overbites. Although braces can enhance your quality of life, the most difficult adjustment in having braces is to give up some of the foods you love. Certain foods can get stuck in the braces and even damage them.

Let's take a look at some of the worst food to eat with your braces.

1. Food with a tough and hard texture

• Nuts

• Popcorn

• Beef jerky

• Hard candies

• Ice

• Chips

• Pretzels

Hard food can damage your braces by dislodging, cracking or bending brackets and wires which can potentially cause a delay in your treatment.

2. Food with a sticky textre

• Chewing gum or bubble gum

• Chewy candy

• Caramel taffy and toffee

• Fruit roll ups

Sticky food can pull or loosen brackets and ligatures and get caught in braces making it a nightmare to clean.

3. Sugary food and drinks

• Soda

• Sweet pastries

• Candies

Limit the consumption of sugar when having braces. Sugar mixed with saliva creates plaque, a sticky film that coats the teeth. Removing this sticky film is harder to do with braces, giving you the risk of cavity.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.

Brian Y. Kuo DDS FAGD

(626) 800-8022

www.drkuodds.com