Food Advice for Orthodontic Patients

While wearing braces, you must be very mindful of what you are eating, and how you are eating it. You should not eat chewy, or extremely hard or crunchy foods, as they can be very problematic for a patient wearing braces.

Patients should also never put things in their mouths such as pens, pen caps, pencils, or even their own fingers! The good rule to live by is "Nothing but foods or toothbrushes in your mouth!"

Special care should be taken when eating things like meat on bones-cut the meat off of the bones and eat small pieces. Cut corn off of the cob and use a fork to eat it-DON'T bite into the cob! Cut apples, or raw, crunchy vegetables into small pieces-don't bite on them with your front teeth! This can very easily loosen a brace or make it fall off completely. DO NOT chew ice, chewing gum (even if it's sugarless), gummy bears, fruit roll-ups, caramel, popcorn, granola bars or hard candy.

Carbonated beverages should really be avoided, as they can stain teeth, and have a very high sugar content, which can cause decay. Carbonation can also loosen braces!

By paying careful attention to adhere to this list and these guidelines, you will play a big part in having a smooth and uncomplicated treatment. Breaking braces or wires can increase a patient's time in braces, and we want all of our patients to finish on time with the most attractive smile possible!