If you’re considering braces or you’re due to start braces soon, you may be wondering about the impact that braces will have on your everyday life. Even if you’re already a braces patient, you may still be getting used to your mouth, and to your orthodontist’s recommendations for successful orthodontic treatment. This is all perfectly normal! And you’re not alone.
One of the most common questions patients ask about braces is how the treatment will influence their eating habits. If you have friends or family who have experienced braces, you have probably heard that hard food is bad and soft food is good. While this is true, we thought it would be helpful to go beyond the “hard is bad and soft is good” summary and explain a little bit more about what to expect in terms of diet and lifestyle changes while you’re in braces.
Why do I or my child need to avoid certain foods while in braces?
Orthodontics and braces are an investment in your smile, your dental health, and your overall well being. Being mindful in your everyday life—especially when it comes to food—is an important way to protect this investment and ensure that your braces treatment is as efficient and effective as possible. Indulging in off-limits foods even occasionally can have negative consequences. Each additional appointment to repair damaged brackets or wires can extend your treatment time.
A healthy diet won’t only ensure a more efficient treatment process—it will also improve your results from your braces. Your teeth go through a lot in braces, and they need nutrients to maintain strength as your mouth shifts and changes. Eating healthy is good for your teeth while you’re in braces and once they’re gone, and establishing good habits now will set you up for success when your braces come off. Your orthodontics specialist’s guidelines may feel strict, but the better you care for your braces now, the more you’ll be smiling later!
Eating dos and don’ts during braces treatment
Food to avoid: beware of hard, crunchy, or sticky
What foods are off-limits for braces patients? A good rule of thumb is to stay away from hard, crunchy, or sticky food. Eating these foods while in braces can wreak havoc on brackets and wires, prompting additional office visits and prolonging treatment.
Here are some foods to put on your “don’ts” list while in braces:
- Chips
- Crusty bread, like pizza crusts or bagels
- Hard candies
- Sticky candies like caramel and taffy
- Gum
- Popcorn
- Hard, crunchy fruits like apples
- Fruits with seeds like strawberries and raspberries
- Hard, crunchy vegetables like carrots and broccoli
- Corn on the cob
- Nuts
- Beef jerky
It’s not only hard foods that can be harmful to braces. Chewing on non-food items like pens, pencils, nails, toothpicks, and straws should also be avoided.
Food to enjoy: soft is safe!
There are many healthy, delicious foods you can enjoy while in braces. In general, anything soft and seedless is an excellent choice.
Some specific foods to put on your braces “dos” list include:
- Well-cooked pasta
- Soft vegetables, cooked or raw
- Soft fruits, like ripe peaches, pears, or apple sauce
- Dairy products like yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Boneless lean, tender meats
- Tofu
- Soups
- Smoothies
- Nut butters
- Casseroles
- Crustless pizza
- Most grains
When in doubt about a certain food, check with your orthodontics expert during your office visits.
The importance of proper teeth cleaning while in braces
Thorough teeth cleaning is always important, but it’s even more critical when you’re a braces patient since pieces of food can easily become lodged between brackets and teeth. Be sure to brush your teeth after every meal with braces, and floss at least twice a day. Regular cleaning of your teeth while you have braces will help to clear away any food debris and keep tartar and plaque at bay. If tartar and plaque accumulate during the braces process, you risk white spots on your teeth when your braces are removed.
How is Invisalign different from braces?
There are many options when it comes to modern orthodontic treatment. If you’re considering aligners, benefits abound. For the adult patient, straightening teeth with clear aligners may be particularly appealing due to their discretion, but there are additional benefits beyond aesthetics.
Invisalign is an extremely popular method of straightening teeth and improving smiles for many patients who are ready to embrace the benefits of orthodontics while avoiding the aesthetic and lifestyle changes associated with braces. Invisalign straightens teeth using a series of clear aligners that gently, efficiently, and discreetly move teeth into their proper position. In addition to being almost invisible, Invisalign aligners are removable, which makes maintaining good dental hygiene during your orthodontics process even easier. And because patients remove aligners to eat, there’s no need to limit certain foods as you would with braces—hard or soft, it’s all on the “dos” list! With Invisalign, excellent brushing and flossing habits remain vital to achieving effective, efficient results and a healthy, sparkling smile, just as they are with braces.
Hutta Orthodontic Specialists is delighted to offer a wide range of clear appliances including Invisalign at our Worthington office. Be sure to discuss Invisalign during your initial appointment to learn if you’re a good candidate for this life changing technology.
Better braces and the most advanced orthodontics at Hutta Orthodontic Specialists
Braces remain the quickest, most affordable, and most effective method for straightening teeth and improving smiles. Plus, investing in braces is one of the best things you can do for your dental health in both the short and long term, reducing your likelihood of cavities, gum disease, and bone and enamel loss while also increasing your confidence thanks to your beautiful smile.
At Hutta Orthodontic Specialists, we believe that every patient deserves an orthodontics experience that brings a smile to their face, during each office visit and for a lifetime afterwards. This is why we only use the most advanced technology in orthodontics for straightening teeth and improving lives. Our braces treatments include Damon Braces and Insignia Braces. Damon Braces are the best braces in orthodontics, using a self-ligating system for repositioning teeth and eliminating the pressure and time-intensive nature of traditional braces. When combined with Insignia Braces, your braces process can be even more personalized to you and your oral care needs. With a variety of clear aligner options rounding out our offerings, we have something for everyone.
Our experts are standing by to care for you as you embark or continue your unique journey to your best smile. Make an appointment with our office today!