Eating with Orthodontic Appliance

Diet and Oral Hygiene
When you have braces or other orthodontic appliances, it’s important to be careful with what you eat to avoid damaging them. Sticky, hard, or chewy foods should be avoided as they can cause brackets or wires to break, and it’s best to cut foods into small pieces and chew with your back teeth to prevent damage. Maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly is important to prevent food from getting stuck in your braces or appliances.

Here are some foods to avoid while wearing braces:

• Hard and crunchy foods like popcorn, nuts, hard candy, and ice
• Sticky and chewy foods like gum, caramels, and taffy
• Tough meats and chewy bread
• Corn on the cob and apples (unless cut into small pieces)
• Carbonated and sugary drinks like soda and sports drinks

These foods can damage the brackets and wires of your braces and make it difficult to maintain good oral hygiene. It’s best to avoid these foods altogether or to cut them into small, manageable pieces. Instead, opt for soft foods like yogurt, cooked vegetables, and tender meats.