Early Stages of Orthodontics

It is worth noting that there are some examples of food that should be avoided in the first few days and weeks of having braces fitted and others which should stay out of your diet for the duration of treatment so as not to damage them and slow down your treatment time.

Foods to avoid in the early days include those that can irritate the mouth and might be uncomfortable to eat if there is any tooth sensitivity while you adapt to your new braces.

These would include extremes of temperature, such as ice cream or hot beverages, and also extreme taste sensations such as citric fruits due to their acidity levels.

It may also be advised to avoid some “thicker” foods as well, for instance sizeable cuts of meat and even chunky rolls of bread that require you to exert significant effort when biting down.

Moreover, these are all be items you can enjoy eating after the initial sensitivity has reduced.

General Rules on What Foods to Avoid with Braces

As no list can ever be truly definitive, it is also useful to have general rules to follow.
Someone with braces should avoid sticky and hard foods. Sticky items can attach to the braces and wires and make cleaning them much more difficult, while anything hard has the propensity to cause damage to the brace when biting down.

Sticky soft foods, which are often sweet and high in sugar, would also be a concern as they can lead to bacterial build-up and plaque. This is a potential problem for anyone, but having braces makes it more difficult to clear this plaque away from some areas of the mouth without professional help (from a hygienist).

We all have nervous habits but chewing on other non-edible hard items like pens and pencils can also warp or damage your braces!

How to Enjoy Some Foods You’re Not Meant to Eat with Braces

The list of foods to be avoided can seem lengthy and tricky to keep to, especially as it includes healthy and nutritious foods such as vegetables.

Don’t worry, foods can still be eaten, just in a different way!

Vegetables such as carrots can be cooked to become softer or chopped into smaller pieces so that they are easier to chew. Although hard nuts should be avoided, it is possible to eat peanut butter or similar nutty spreads.

Most people find that after a few weeks, the list of foods to be avoided has little impact on what they choose to eat on a daily basis.

What About Eating with Invisalign?

One advantage of an option such as Invisalign (clear aligners instead of metal and wire braces) is that the aligners are removed for eating so it is possible to enjoy a greater variety of food. However, you must give the teeth a thorough cleanse before reinserting your aligners, and of course you should still steer clear of sugary and acidic foods to protect your teeth.

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