Anyone who has braces wants the treatment process to go as quickly as possible. One of the things you can do to prevent having to wear your braces for longer than is necessary is to make sure you stay away from certain foods that can cause damage to your braces or teeth. Here are some types of foods you’ll want to avoid:
1. Chewy Foods
Very chewy foods will easily loosen and damage your braces. These include bagels, rolls, and licorice, among others. Chewy foods will force you to extend more force to the teeth and to the braces which can hurt the alignment process. Stick to soft foods for a while till you get the desired results.
2. Crunchy Foods
Crunchy foods not only require more exertion in chewing but are bound to do a number on your braces, which may have you going back to the orthodontist more than you need! Resist popcorns while at the movies or home and keep away from biting into ice. It will be worth the wait!
3. Sticky and Sugary Foods
Most people love candy, caramels, and all types of gum, but trust us, it will be worth the sacrifice of not indulging in them while you have braces. Sticky foods will stick to the braces as well as pull them away from their position, which will also make it harder to clean and brush around your braces. (And pro tip: Even though you’re consuming less sugar, your teeth still need to be brushed and flossed daily to aid the process of aligning and correcting the teeth.)
4. Hard Foods
Just like chewy foods, hard foods are not a good idea when fitted with braces. These include nuts, cane, and hard pretzels. Hard foods will quickly misalign, break and even loosen braces. Sticking to soft foods will avoid these disasters.
5. Foods You Need to Bite into
Biting into an apple or corn on the cob should probably wait until the braces come off. If you try eating these foods with braces, it can easily lead to loose or broken brackets. Not to mention foods you have to bite into will also be mighty uncomfortable to eat while you have braces.
We know it can be a sacrifice to give up some of your favorite foods while you have braces. However, we also know how much more quickly the treatment process is going to go if you stick to the right foods, which means that your fantastic smile will come that much sooner!
