There is no doubt that eating with braces is not easy.

Eating a balanced diet has always been one of the most important things! Whether you have braces or not, of course. However, vegetables and fruits are not the easiest to eat while wearing braces, as they can be hard (e.g. carrots, pears), although healthy.
These foods should be cut into small pieces, so they are easier to eat and do not interfere with or damage the braces.

Bites that are too large and hard can break or warp the braces, which can lead to repairs and longer treatment times.

Another thing to avoid is foods that are too sugary. Gum sugar, fluffy sugar, caramel and other sticky foods.
Acids from sugar can discolour teeth and pieces of stuck food can damage them. Acidic drinks should also be avoided, as they can damage tooth enamel and teeth during orthodontic treatment.

And if we do eat and drink such food and drink, it is very important to brush and clean our teeth thoroughly afterwards.

A difficulties you may want to avoid eating fibrous, dry meats to avoid this. In the short term there is no problem with this, but in the longer term we cannot afford to reduce our protein intake to this extent. Alternatives may include scrambled eggs, cream cheese, liver, fish without fibre, pureed beef.

Eating with braces- So foods to skip from the repertoire during orthodontics:

• nuts
• hard sugar
• sticky, thick peanut butter
• popcorn
• caramel
• Chocolate
• Chewing gum

The few days after fitting and tightening can be extremely painful and nerve-wracking to endure the constant pressure. It is painful not just to eat, but even to think about food. You have to find an alternative for these days, so that you don't have to starve yourself on the difficult days. A good soup, pudding, stews, or a pulpy, thin meal can be an excellent choice. Some specific examples are pumpkin soup, cream soups, mashed potatoes, yoghurt, kefir.

Why is it important to watch your diet with braces?

Because with enough care the braces will stay intact and you can achieve outstanding improvements in a much shorter time.

If the braces are damaged during use, it will only mean extra time and inconvenience for us. So it's important to keep up with treatment and maintenance, so we can save days, even weeks, of misery. It's worth it, right?

My patients and I go over all the important information about orthodontics during the first consultation. Book an appointment and let's talk through your path to a confident smile!