Foods to Eat
Foods to Eat When You Have Braces
Braces are a common treatment used to correct the alignment of your teeth, improving your oral health as well as the quality of your smile. With braces, brackets are bonded to the surfaces of your teeth. While your braces are strong, and an incredibly effective treatment, certain foods can cause your brackets to come loose or your wires to bend or break.
At Dr. Tim Dumore & Team, we can help to protect your braces by providing you with suggestions on what to eat when you have braces.
Fruits and Vegetables
There are a wide array of fruits and vegetables that you can eat when you have braces. Steam or hard roast vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower to soften their texture. This makes them much easier to chew, which can help to prevent them from dislodging your brackets or bending your wires. You can also make mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes.
Enjoy fruits like bananas, pitted cherries, blueberries, and applesauce. You can even mix fruits and vegetables to create customized smoothies.
Dairy
Dairy has calcium and other nutrients essential for the health of your teeth, and these should be incorporated into your diet. There is plenty you can enjoy other than drinking milk. You can also eat dairy products such as yogurts and soft cheeses. Yogurt can be mixed with fresh fruit or added to a smoothie for additional nutrients.
Bread and Grains
Pick soft sandwich bread, soft tortillas, biscuits, and light crackers. You can also enjoy nut-free muffins and pancakes, soft cooked rice and pasta, and noodle dishes like macaroni and cheese.
Proteins
There are plenty of ways to get protein while you are wearing braces. Choose lunch meats, ground meats, and soft cooked chicken. If you prefer seafood, eat fish without bones, salmon, and tuna. You can also enjoy crab or crab cakes. If you do not eat meat, or enjoy meat-free dishes, you can enjoy dishes like soft cooked beans and rice, vegetarian chili, and softly cooked lentils.
Treats You Can Enjoy
Just because you are wearing braces, does not mean that you have to avoid treats. There are numerous treats that you can enjoy when you have braces. You are not limited to Jell-O. Just like treats without braces, enjoy treats in moderation. Enjoy milkshakes, ice cream without nuts, and nut-free cakes and cupcakes.
Make sure that you brush your teeth well after enjoying treats, as the additional sugars provide food for oral bacteria, increasing your risk for tooth decay and cavities.
What I Should Avoid?
There are a few things that should be avoided while undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces.
Some of these things include:
- Crunchy fruits and vegetables. Whole apples and pears, raw carrots, raw celery, and more all pose risks. Whole fruits can be cut into smaller pieces, and raw veggies can be steamed or roasted to soften their texture.
- Hard, crusty breads.
- Chewy breads and meats.
- Sticky foods, such as gum and gummy candies.
Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for your whole-body health, including while wearing braces. With the right foods, you can get all the nutrients you need while still keeping your braces safe. If you have any questions about what to eat, and what to avoid, call Dr. Tim Dumore & Team today.