Orthodontic braces are an effective and reliable solution for the majority of teeth and bite alignment issues, including severe cases. But wearing braces comes with specific habit adjustments and dietary restrictions. In this article, we discuss the foods you should avoid while wearing braces and give other important braces care tips.
What Foods Should I Avoid With Braces
Braces require dietary restrictions because some foods can damage the brackets, bend wires, or dislodge brace components. As a result, you will need to incur additional repair costs, and the overall treatment time may increase. Additionally, broken braces can cause damage to teeth and soft tissues.
Foods we recommend avoiding when wearing braces include:
- Crunchy and hard foods, such as chips, crackers, stale bread, nuts, raw carrots, seeds, popcorn, hard candy, and ice, can creak or bend the wires, making braces ineffective.
Foods you have to bite into, such as firm apples, pears, and corn on the cob, can also bend and break the wires. - Sticky foods, such as taffy, caramel, gummy candies, licorice, and gum, can dislodge components of your braces.
- Chewy foods, such as tough meats, can strain wires and loosen attachments.
Additionally, wearing braces increases the risk of cavities, especially if your oral hygiene is insufficient. Therefore, we recommend avoiding sugary and acidic foods and beverages, as they weaken enamel and can contribute to cavity formation.
Safe Food Alternative for People with Braces
When choosing your food, opt for the following options:
- Soft fruit, such as bananas, or fruit cut into small pieces. Also, you can try baked apples instead of fresh ones.
- Cooked vegetables instead of raw ones (for example, boiled or baked carrots)
Plenty of water instead of soft drinks: water hydrates and helps wash away food residue and bacteria.
Should I Clean Braces After Meals?
Food can easily get stuck in braces, feed bacteria in the mouth, and pose risks of tooth decay, gum disease, and persistent bad breath if not removed regularly. It is essential to clean your braces and teeth after every meal to prevent bacterial proliferation. To clean your braces effectively after meals, follow these steps:
- Prepare and carry a dental hygiene kit. The kit should include a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, a floss, and a floss threader or an interdental brush. You can opt for travel sizes of these articles for convenience.
- To clean your teeth and braces after meals, begin by vigorously swishing water for 30 seconds to dislodge large food particles.
- The next step is to use a floss threader or an interdental brush to remove food particles under the wires and between the teeth.
- Finish the routine by brushing your teeth.
If you are at home, you can use a water flosser as an additional step in your routine to boost its effectiveness.
Other Braces Care Tips
Other essential braces care and oral health with braces tips include:
- If your braces rub soft tissue in your mouth and cause sores and irritation, apply a small amount of dental wax on the rubbing parts of your braces.
- Use lukewarm saltwater rinses to disinfect the sores in the mouth and reduce irritation caused by braces
- Protect your braces from physical damage: avoid using your teeth as tools or chewing on hard objects.
- Make your morning and evening oral hygiene a priority to avoid cavities and gum disease.
Get an Orthodontic Treatment at Santa Ana Magic Smile
Do not hesitate to sign up for a consultation with an experienced dentist at Santa Ana Magic Smile today to start your orthodontic treatment. Our specialists will carefully examine your case and consider your goals and needs to offer you an optimal treatment plan. We are looking forward to your visit.
