What Foods Can You Eat When Wearing Braces in Coatesville?

Braces can be a difficult treatment to go through, especially if you’re a young person. While it may seem frustrating at first, it will be worth it once the braces come off and your teeth are looking straight and more attractive than ever before! Until that happens though, you’ll need to know what foods you can eat and what you’ll need to avoid.

Building your diet while wearing braces in Coatesville now will help you avoid dental emergencies later!

Foods to Avoid While Wearing Braces

When modifying your diet, the last thing you want to eat is food that can easily get stuck inside the brackets or underneath the archwire. Food can also detach a bracket from your tooth if you’re not careful, resulting in an emergency trip to the dentist. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, patients wearing braces should avoid:

• Nuts
• Popcorn kernels
• Tortilla chips or hard shell tacos
• Gum
• Taffy
• Hard candy
• Hard chocolates
• Caramel

While many of the mentioned foods are sticky and can easily damage braces, they’re also capable of getting stuck behind them and causing tooth decay.

Foods to Enjoy While Wearing Braces

While some foods can be difficult to eat in certain forms, such as apples, pears and corn on the cob, it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy them. You’ll just need to prep them so they are easier to consume, such as slicing the apples into more manageable pieces or removing corn from the cob before serving it. This is also the case for other hard crunchy foods that may not be acceptable in their current form, but can still be eaten if served properly. For example, carrots and celery are great for oral health as they keep saliva production high and are low in sugar.

Foods that you can eat while wearing braces include:

• Steamed, sautéed or roasted vegetables
• Canned fruits or applesauce
• Bananas
• Muffins
• Pancakes
• Eggs
• Yogurt
• Oatmeal
• String cheese (as well as other soft cheeses)
• Salad
• Sandwiches
• Fish
• Chicken
• Mashed potatoes
• Soft breads
• Soup and stews

Additional Tips On Keeping Teeth Healthy During Treatment

It’s important to note that it’s worth taking the extra time to adjust your brushing and flossing routine after getting braces. When practicing your oral care routine, make sure to:

• Take three minutes to brush instead of two for extra care
• Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle for maximum coverage
• Angle your toothbrush down while you brush, then back up to reach underneath the brackets and wires
• Use a floss threader to remove plaque and food from underneath the archwire
• Use mouthwash for additional protection for your enamel
• Schedule regular exams and cleanings to the dentist

Managing your diet and oral care routine doesn’t have to be difficult. Schedule an appointment with an orthodontics in Coatesville today to protect your smile during treatment!

About the Author

Dr. Mark Simeone earned his DMD degree from Temple University’s School of Dental Medicine. Since earning his degree and completing his residency, he’s become one of the most respected dentists in the field because of high standard of care and convenience he offers patients. To learn more about his practice, you can contact him through his website.