Foods to Avoids

For most situations, common sense will tell you what foods to avoid. Hard or sticky foods should DEFINITELY be avoided. Hard foods can easily break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets or damage your wires. Sugary foods can contribute to tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pen or pencil chewing, and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.

Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:

Ice
Nuts
Pizza crust Braces and Hard Food

Bagels

Hard bread crust
French bread crust/rolls
Corn on the cob (cut the kernels off the cob with a knife)
Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
Thick chips

Granola bars

Hard taco shells
Hard candies
Jolly Ranchers

Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:
Bubble Gum (some soft sugar-free gums are okay)
Braces and Candy

Licorice

Jerky
Sugar Daddies
Toffee
Tootsie Rolls
Caramels
Starburst

Laffy Taffy

Jelly Beans

Minimize Sugary Foods Like These:
Braces and Sweets

Cake
Ice Cream
Cookies
Pie
Candy

Gatorade

Energy Drinks

Sports Drinks

Soda
Sweetened tea
Kool-Aid
Drinks with sugar (even juice and milk have sugar!)

Don't Forget - Most yummy drinks have LOTS of sugar and are VERY BAD for your teeth (especially while wearing braces)! If you must, only drink one pop or soda each day, and do it quickly - DO NOT SIP on pop, juice or energy drinks.

It’s important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. This is easily done each day when you brush your teeth. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office immediately to arrange an appointment for repair. Breakage can delay your treatment and add extra appointments.

Other Helpful TIPS:

Always brush your teeth after eating.

BRUSH YOUR TEETH BEFORE GOING TO BED! (Otherwise food will sit on your teeth all night long!)

If you can't brush, at least swish with water to remove harmful acids from your teeth.

POOR BRUSHING will damage your teeth and gums. White scars and cavities will develop on teeth that are not cleaned enough.

Save yourself and/or your child the unnecessary extra fillings (and expenses) that may result from not keeping the teeth clean and healthy.