A Helpful List of Do’s and Dont’s of Having Braces

How to Tackle Eating With Braces and Avoid Any Embarrassing Mishaps

Whether you are just starting out or well into your orthodontic treatments, this guide can help you stay away from troublesome foods or behavior so you can really get the most of your braces. Issues like loose bands, crooked wires, detached brackets, or trapped pieces of food can affect your treatment time and may delay recovery. Here is a list of some beneficial do’s and don’ts of living with braces.

Watch What You Eat

One of the most common reasons why patients have to return to their orthodontist to have their braces adjusted or repaired is because of certain damaging foods. For your convenience, Dr. Beaufils has put together this list of foods that should be avoided as well as those you can enjoy.

Stay Away From:

• Candy, sweets, and foods with excessive sugars. Sticky caramels, candies, sodas, and more can get stuck on your braces and can be damaging to your teeth.
• Popcorns, pretzels, nuts, chips, and other small hard foods. Kernels and crumbs can get uncomfortably stuck in between your teeth and brackets.
• Raw carrots, apples, or other hard foods. Biting into these can damage your braces and may be painful to your jaw and teeth if they are feeling sore.
• Beef jerky, bubble gum, suckers, and other overly chewy food items can put a strain on your jaw and your teeth, and cause bands or wires to loosen or bend.
• Chewing on ice, pens, pencils, or other foreign objects. Aside from the bacteria that pens and pencils contain, chewing on hard objects can harm your teeth or your braces.

If you do eat any of the above foods, be sure to brush your teeth immediately. Some foods, like fruits, vegetables, bagels, and pizza crusts can be consumed if they are cut into small, chewable pieces beforehand.

Instead, Enjoy:

• Soft fruits and steamed veggies. You can always blend them up into a smoothie for a delicious and soothing treat! Plus, they offer much-needed vitamins and nutrients for healthy, strong teeth.
• Dairy and dairy alternatives. Foods like yogurt and milk can be ideal for days when your teeth are feeling sore. Plus, dairy has calcium and proteins that can help strengthen teeth and bones.
• Boneless meats. Avoid pulling meat from the bone with your teeth, as the strands can get caught and the bone can bend wires.
• Soft grains, like oatmeal or pasta. The softer and easier to chew the meal, the less aggravating it will be to your mouth and your braces.

You may like: “5 Clean Eating Choices That Will Improve the Quality of Your Smile”

Other Tips and Tricks

Along with watching what you eat, you can also take certain steps to help maintain your braces and overall orthodontic health. As mentioned above, always avoid putting unfamiliar objects in your mouth as they can transfer unwanted bacteria to your mouth. If it slips your mind and you find you accidentally nibbled on the back of your pencil or chewed on your nail, just rinse your mouth out with mouthwash.

Of course, don’t play with your braces. Don’t fiddle with any bands or brackets unless specifically directed by your dentist. If anything feels out of place or uncomfortable, contact your orthodontist and explain the problem.

Always maintain regular brushing and oral health care, and keep up with dental visits. If you or one of your loved ones is in need of orthodontic services, Dr. Beaufils offers quality care to patients in Cooper City and the surrounding areas. Contact Beaufils Dental today to schedule an appointment!