Eating with Braces: What's Safe and What to Avoid
Getting braces means making changes to eating habits, but it doesn't mean giving up all favourite foods.
Knowing which foods are safe and which ones can damage braces helps protect the investment in a straighter smile while avoiding painful and inconvenient emergency visits to the orthodontist.
Some foods work well with braces and won't cause problems. Soft foods like pasta, yogurt, and cooked vegetables are easy to eat and won't put stress on brackets or wires.
Other foods can break brackets, bend wires, or get stuck in hard-to-reach places. Hard candies, sticky caramels, and crunchy snacks like popcorn, to name a few, can cause expensive damage that delays treatment progress.
Safe Foods to Eat with Braces
Choosing the right foods during orthodontic treatment protects braces from damage and keeps teeth healthy.
Focus on soft textures, nutrient-rich options, and foods that won't get stuck in brackets or wires.
Brace-Friendly Fruits and Vegetables
Soft fruits make excellent choices for people with braces.
Bananas provide potassium and natural sweetness without risking bracket damage. Cut them into small pieces to make eating easier.
Berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries offer antioxidants and vitamins. Their small size and soft texture work well with braces. Rinse the mouth after eating to prevent staining.
Avocado delivers healthy fats and a creamy texture. Mash it into guacamole or spread it on soft bread. The smooth consistency won't irritate brackets or wires.
Steamed vegetables become much softer than raw ones. Steam broccoli, carrots, and green beans until tender. Cut larger pieces into smaller bites to avoid putting pressure on braces.
Canned fruits in juice provide another safe option. Choose varieties without added sugar when possible. Peaches, pears, and fruit cocktail work particularly well.
Dairy and Calcium-Rich Choices
Dairy products support strong teeth during orthodontic treatment. Yogurt offers probiotics and calcium in a smooth, easy-to-eat form. Choose plain varieties to reduce sugar intake.
Soft cheeses like mozzarella, cream cheese, and cottage cheese provide protein and calcium. Avoid hard cheeses that require excessive chewing. Shredded cheese melts easily on warm foods.
Pudding serves as both a treat and a calcium source. Homemade versions allow control over sugar content. Rice pudding and tapioca provide variety while remaining gentle on braces.
Milk and milk-based smoothies deliver essential nutrients. Blend fruits with milk or yogurt for a nutritious drink. Avoid adding ice cubes that might tempt someone to chew them.
Proteins and Plant-Based Alternatives
Eggs provide complete protein in various soft forms. Scrambled eggs, egg salad, and hard-boiled eggs (cut into pieces) all work well. Avoid adding crunchy ingredients like nuts or seeds.
Fish offers lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Choose flaky varieties like salmon, cod, or tilapia. Remove all bones carefully before eating.
Tofu serves as an excellent plant-based protein. Its soft texture makes it ideal for brace wearers. Use it in stir-fries, soups, or smoothies for added nutrition.
Ground meats become easier to chew than whole cuts. Turkey, chicken, and beef work well when cooked thoroughly. Season with herbs and spices for flavour variety.
Soft Grains, Carbs, and Snacks
Pasta provides energy and comfort food satisfaction. Choose smaller shapes like shells or penne over long noodles. Cook until tender to reduce chewing effort.
Rice offers versatility and a gentle texture. White rice, brown rice, and rice dishes like risotto all work well. Avoid adding hard ingredients like nuts or crunchy vegetables.
Soft grains like quinoa and oatmeal provide fibre and nutrients. Cook them thoroughly until tender. Add soft fruits or honey for extra flavour.
Soups combine nutrition with easy consumption. Broth-based soups, cream soups, and pureed vegetable soups all suit braces wearers. Avoid soups with large chunks or hard ingredients.
Soft breads and muffins provide carbohydrates without stress on braces. Choose varieties without nuts, seeds, or hard crusts. Toast lightly if desired, but avoid crispy textures.
Foods to Avoid During Orthodontic Treatment
Certain foods can damage brackets and wires or get stuck in braces, leading to painful repairs and longer treatment times.
Patients need to avoid hard, sticky, and chewy items that put extra pressure on orthodontic appliances.
Hard and Crunchy Snacks
Hard foods create dangerous pressure on brackets and wires. When patients bite down on these items, the force can snap wires or pop brackets off teeth.
Never eat these crunchy foods:
- Nuts and seeds
- Popcorn kernels
- Hard crackers
- Ice cubes
- Chips (especially thick, hard varieties)
Raw carrots and apples pose similar risks. The hard texture requires a significant bite force that orthodontic appliances cannot handle safely.
Hard candies seem harmless, but they create major problems. Patients often bite down on them instead of letting them dissolve. This sudden pressure frequently breaks brackets.
Even seemingly soft chips can cause damage. Corn chips and thick potato chips create sharp edges that can cut gums and damage wires.
Sticky, Chewy, and Sugary Foods
Sticky foods wrap around brackets and wires, making them nearly impossible to remove with regular brushing. These items also pull on orthodontic appliances with dangerous force.
Avoid these sticky culprits:
- Caramel and toffee
- Chewing gum (all types)
- Taffy and gummy candy
- Sticky rice dishes
- Dried fruits
Gum creates the worst problems for braces wearers. It sticks to every surface and requires professional removal. Even sugar-free varieties cause issues.
Sugary snacks feed harmful bacteria around brackets. Candy dissolves slowly in the mouth, bathing teeth in sugar for extended periods.
Chewy foods like bagels and tough bread can bend wires out of place. The pulling motion during chewing puts stress on all parts of the bracing system.
Foods Requiring Special Preparation
Some favourite foods become safe with proper preparation. Patients can still enjoy many items by cutting them into smaller pieces or cooking them differently.
Corn on the cob must be cut off the cob before eating. The kernels become safe once removed from their tough base.
Tough meats like steak need thorough cooking and small cuts. Raw or undercooked meat requires too much chewing force. Patients should choose tender cuts and slice them thin.
Apples and raw carrots become braces-friendly when cut into thin slices. This removes the need for hard biting while keeping nutrition intact.
Safe preparation methods:
- Cut food into bite-sized pieces
- Cook vegetables until tender
- Choose softer meat cuts
- Remove food from hard shells or cobs
Orthodontic wax helps protect against sharp edges when eating challenging foods, but preparation remains the best defence.
Begin Your Smile Transformation with Bronte Family Orthodontics
Whether you’ve just started your journey with orthodontic braces or are still exploring your options, our team at Bronte Family Orthodontics is here to help you feel informed, prepared, and excited about your smile transformation.
Our team is here to support you through every stage, starting with day one.
Ready to embrace your brace journey? Book a consultation with our friendly team today.