In general, hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar should be avoided to maintain proper care of your teeth and braces. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Sugary foods can cause tooth decay, staining, and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should also be avoided.
Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:
Gum (sugar-free or regular)
Licorice
Sugar Daddies
Toffee
Tootsie Rolls
Caramels
Starburst
Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:
Ice
Nuts
Hard taco shells
French bread crust/rolls
Corn on the cob
Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
Bagels
Chips
Jolly Ranchers
Pizza crust
Popcorn
Minimize Sugary Foods like:
Cake
Ice Cream
Cookies
Pie
Candy
Only Once a Day:
Soda
Sweetened tea
Gatorade
Kool-Aid
Drinks with sugar
It’s important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office immediately to arrange an appointment for repair.