Dental braces are used to help correct crooked or crowded teeth or malocclusion. With braces on, one needs to be particularly careful with their food and with the help of dental professionals such as Rockingham Dental Centre. This is because some foods may damage the braces or even prolong your treatment. Chewy, sticky, and hard foods are the biggest culprits, a reason you should avoid these until it is safe. Outlined below are some of the foods you can and cannot eat if wearing dental braces.
Foods You Cannot Eat With Braces On
- Hard foods: Hard foods can dislodge or break the archwire/brackets, forcing you to get new ones. For this reason, you want to steer away from nuts, cookies, lollies, and ice cubes until the dentist gives you the green light.
- Chewy foods: Avoid foods that have to be chewed longer than necessary. Chewing for too long can misalign the brackets and put undesired pressure on the braces. Chewing gum is an excellent example of chewy food you need to avoid.
- Crunchy foods: Crunchy foods have an almost similar effect as hard and chewy foods. Popcorn, ice, potato chips, and pretzels are good examples of these.
- Sticky foods: Sticky foods, such as caramel can get trapped between teeth and brackets. They are also chewy and release sugars slowly, creating an acidic environment in the mouth. This increases the risk of tooth decay and erosion; hence should be avoided.
- Sugary foods: Foods with a high sugar content, especially processed sugars, should be avoided as they can trigger tooth erosion and decay. These sugars are trapped between the brackets and teeth and are converted into acids.
Foods You Can Eat with Braces On
Any foods opposite of those described above are safe to eat when on orthodontic treatment. These include:
- Fresh vegetables and fruits: Fresh fruits and vegetables are considered safe to eat. You thus can enjoy your favorite smoothies, fresh juice, avocado, bananas, fruit purees, berries, and other seedless fruits. Mashed potatoes, beans, and steamed veggies are safe too.
- Poultry and meat: You can also enjoy your favorite meat cuts and poultry. Only make sure the meats are soft, tender, and thoroughly cooked to ensure they aren’t chewy. You can have eggs as well.
- Seafood: Tuna, salmon, crab, and boneless fish are safe to eat with braces on.
- Dairy products: Cottage cheese yogurts, fresh milk, and soft cheeses are good for your dental health and won’t affect the braces either.
- Cereals: Cereal products, e.g., pasta, muffins, soft tortillas, and slow-cooked rice, won’t do you any harm. You however need to ensure they do not contain any nuts or seeds in them.
- Sweets: For those with a sweet tooth, you can still enjoy your sugary treats once in a while. Soft cookies, milkshakes, and plain chocolate would make perfect treats too.
- Soups: Soups require very little to no chewing, hence great for when under orthodontic treatment.
Proper oral hygiene and focusing on the recommended but nutritious diet plan are vital for your dental health. Having a nutritious meal also means the body gets all the essential nutrients required for healthy cell and tissue development and good dental health in the long run. Proper nutrition and care are crucial during orthodontic treatment.
