What Foods to Avoid with Braces
For patients with moderate to severe misalignment of the adult teeth, orthodontic work may be required to improve the situation. Patients often turn to metal bracket and wire braces to give them the smile they’ve always dreamed of. However, braces require special care and attention to ensure they last throughout treatment. Additionally, patients with braces need to take note of the foods that they should avoid while braces are on their teeth.
What foods should I avoid with braces?
To keep the braces clean and reduce the risk of breakage, patients should avoid the following food items while undergoing treatment with the team at Dental365:
- Chewy foods such as licorice, bagels or hard bread rolls
- Crunchy foods such as ice cubes or popcorn kernels
- Sticky foods such as chewing gum, caramels, and taffy
- Hard foods such as pretzels and nuts
- Sugary foods such as candy, especially chewy candies
In addition to paying close attention to the foods that you are consuming to keep your braces intact, patients should also avoid chewing on other hard objects including their fingernails, pens and pencils, and ice cubes. These items can cause the bracket or wire to break which can slow down treatment and cause changes that will impact the smile’s final results. It is best for patients to closely follow their dentist’s instructions for caring for their braces and ensuring they achieve their desired transformation.
Who is a candidate for braces?
Patients who have anywhere from mild to severe malocclusion may want to speak to a dental professional about using orthodontic work to achieve better alignment. To determine candidacy, we encourage patients to book their initial evaluation with our staff and ask about braces for their smile. In addition to braces, we offer other solutions for mild concerns including the fabrication and placement of porcelain veneers.
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For a list of offices we work with for orthodontic treatment, click below:
