Braces-Friendly Foods
For A Smooth Experience
You’ve probably heard from your parents, friends, and even your orthodontist, the long list of foods and beverages that you should avoid while wearing braces. While it may seem like you’re giving up a lot, it is important to avoid eating certain foods. We also want you to enjoy your braces experience, so here’s a quick list of foods to avoid and foods to embrace while wearing braces.
Foods You Can Eat Safely
Dairy — Soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
Breads — Soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
Grains — Pasta, soft cooked rice
Meats/poultry — Soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood — Tuna, salmon, crab cakes
Vegetables — Mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
Fruits — Applesauce, bananas, sliced fruit, most berries (but watch out for seeds)
Treats — Ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, cake
Foods To Avoid
Ice — At least not if you chew on it
Potato Chips — Be really careful with these
Caramel — Sticky goo which pulls off brackets
Some Breads — Bend wires and break brackets
Beef Jerky — Tough as nails
Hard Candy/Suckers — You might forget and bite
Nuts — No nuts of any kind
Ribs — Knock off brackets
Popcorn — Hulls get caught between gums and bands
Raw carrots — Try to avoid raw carrots
Apples — You can eat them, just cut them up first. Sorry, no caramel apples!
Corn on the cob — Can stay in your teeth for weeks
