EATING WITH BRACES
You’ve probably heard from friends and family members who have worn braces that you won’t be able to eat some of your favorite foods while you’re in treatment. That’s true – if your favorite food is hard candy:-). The truth is – you can eat most foods as long as you avoid things that would cause you to break a bracket, bend a wire or get caught up in the braces where you are unable to remove it. Here’s a simple, helpful guide to help you avoid any issues. Feel free to print this list out and put it up on the fridge.
Foods to AVOID with braces:
- Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
- Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
- Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
- Foods you have to bite into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Foods you CAN eat with braces:
- 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