To keep you motivated to eat right while you have braces let’s first talk about why it’s important to avoid certain foods. You want your braces off as soon as possible to show off your smile, right? Then you’ll want to avoid hard, crunchy foods that can bend wires and pop off brackets, slowing down the braces process. And when you do get your braces off, you wouldn’t want to find yourself with a splotchy smile from soda stains outlining where your brackets were.

Some foods consistently cause issues for braces patients. From causing broken brackets to increasing cavity risk, here are some foods that are least-friendly for patients wearing braces:

• Popcorn - The popcorn kernels can cause minor discomfort when stuck for a long time leading to swelling of gums! Although normally easily removed with floss, brackets and wires make it much more difficult to remove!
• Corn on the cob - This you will find is the most difficult todo to eat whilst wearing braces! Corn that is cut off the cob is perfectly fine to eat though.
• Hard sweets - Bonbons, gobstoppers.. the list goes on. When you bite down on these hard sweets it is most likely that you are going to break your brace.
• Whole apples and raw carrots - Although these are healthy options, while biting into the apple of carrot, they are hard foods and will most likely cause the brackets to break. Cutting up these foods into small bites will make them easier to eat.

It’s possible that only soft foods like soup, mashed potatoes, and soft-bread sandwiches will be manageable right when you first get your braces on or tightened. But after the first few weeks, your gums will handle the braces better and you will become a pro at biting and chewing your food carefully, but effectively. Here is a list of brace friendly foods we recommend:

1. Mashed potatoes

2. Soups

3. Smoothies

4. Yoghurt

5. Bananas

6. Eggs

7. Corn off the cob

TIPS FOR EATING AFTER YOU FIRST GET YOUR BRACES ON

• Slow down! Avoid big bites or wolfing down your dinners. No matter what you are snacking on, cut the food into small pieces, and chew slowly and carefully.
• Stick to soft food immediately after your braces are put on, and for a day or two after any adjustment appointments. Develop an arsenal of soft food recipes (there are plenty that can be found on Google and YouTube). You don’t need to limit yourself to boring soups and shakes! Eventually you can add steak back onto the menu, but take it easy for a few days first.
• Leave nuts and seeds for the squirrels and birds for the time being. However good they are for you, they can get stuck in your brackets. The same for popcorn. Speaking of brackets, keep anything sticky or crunchy at bay – these sorts of foods can break or pop one off.
• Treat yourself to frozen yogurt, popsicles, or ice cream. The cold can provide some immediate relief if your mouth is aching from your braces being put on or adjusted.
• Remember, though – all things in moderation!