Foods to Avoid

Take Care Of Your Braces By Avoiding Harmful Foods

sbraces1With all the time and effort it takes to choose the perfect orthodontic treatment for you and to get them on your teeth, you do not want to damage your brackets and wires by choosing foods that might complicate or break them. If a hard or sticky food seems as though it could cause damage, chances are that it probably will. Just think carefully when making your food choices with braces!

Sticky Food To Avoid

  • Gum, even if it is sugar free
  • Sticky candies such as Starburst, toffee, or Jolly Ranchers
  • Gooey treats such as caramels or Tootsie Rolls
  • Chewy candies such as licorice

Hard Foods To Avoid

  • Nuts
  • Ice cubes
  • Corn on the cob
  • Hard bread crusts or rolls
  • Apples and carrots in large pieces
  • Pizza crust or bagels
  • Crispy taco shells or potato chips

Occasional Treats

In order to help keep your teeth healthy and decay-free at all times, you should consider sugary snacks as rare treats, not everyday foods. Eat these types of snacks only occasionally:

  • Candy
  • Soda
  • Cake
  • Ice cream
  • Sugary drinks (Gatorade, Kool-Aid, etc.)
  • Cookies
  • Pie

Contact Your Local Hatboro, Warminster, & Horsham Orthodontists Today

Of course, you should check the brackets and wires on your teeth every day for signs of damage. Be sure to avoid chewing your fingernails, gnawing on pencils, or chewing on any foreign objects in order to keep your braces in good shape and working effectively.

If you spot any problems, call our office right away at (215) 674-0332 so we can get you on the schedule for a repair. The longer you go with damaged braces, the bigger impact it can have on the outcome of our tooth-straightening efforts, and we want you to have the smile of your dreams as quickly as possible! We look forward to seeing your smile in our office soon!