How to Eat Healthy With Braces On?
It may seem hard at times but following your orthodontist’s dietary recommendations is incredibly important during your braces treatment. Eating food outside your diet can damage your appliance, put in danger your mouth’s oral health, and can even make your treatment last even longer. Here we’ll guide you on what foods you can enjoy and foods you should avoid.
What to Eat With Braces The First Week
As we all know, after your appliances are put in place, your Enid orthodontist will inform you of what foods to avoid with braces and why it is so important to follow your diet strictly. For the first week, however, there is an additional diet that you must follow if you want to avoid the pain and discomfort that comes with getting used to your new braces Enid.
Given that you will most likely experience some soreness on your teeth and gums because of the constant pressure applied by your braces, it’s best to avoid chewing as much as possible. Thus, for your first week, or two if you are still in pain after the first seven days, you’ll have to restrain yourself to only soft foods. Additionally, you should avoid food that is too hot or too cold and anything spicy or citrus.
Here is a list of items you can eat during your first week with braces.
- Scrambled eggs
- Pudding
- Oatmeal
- Soft desserts
- Smoothies
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Noodles and pasta
- Protein shakes
- Soup
- Mashed potatoes
- Jell-O
What Can’t You Eat With Braces?
You will need to avoid certain types of food throughout your entire orthodontic treatment if you want to maintain your appliances in good condition. Hard and crunchy food can break your archwire, loosen brackets, and get stuck on your braces if you eat them repeatedly and without care. Similarly, sticky foods will not only apply unnecessary strain on your braces but will also be incredibly difficult to clean. Additionally, it’s fine to eat sugary foods here and there, but regular consumption can lead to bacteria and plaque building up on your teeth, which will in turn give way to more problems like cavities and gum disease.
A good guideline to remember is to avoid anything that will be difficult to clean afterward. With braces already making it harder to maintain proper oral health, the consumption of crunchy, sticky, hard, and sugary foods will only increase the possibility of dental issues developing because of bacteria buildup.
Hard Foods
- Hard candy
- Hard pizza edges
- Nuts
- Hard chips and crackers
- Ice
- Popcorn
- Thick cuts of meat
- Corn on the cob
Sticky Foods
- Toffee
- Licorice
- Taffy
- Caramel bars like Milky Way or Snickers
- Gum
- Tootsie Rolls
- Gummy Bears
Sugary Foods
Remember that sugary foods like pancakes or sodas by themselves won’t cause damage to your appliances. It’s the accumulation of plaque, which is a result of sugar and bacteria in your mouth mixing, that can, in the long run, cause major damage to your teeth and gums.
Here are a few sugary foods you should consume in very little to no amount.
- Cake
- Pancakes
- Pie
- Lollipops
- Ice Cream
- Sport Drinks
- Sweet Drinks
Healthy & Delicious Foods to Eat With Braces
With all these restrictions it’s completely common for a patient to feel limited and without options when it comes to food, but you should know that there’s still a great variety of both healthy and delicious plates that you can eat without putting your braces at risk. If you are wondering what foods to eat with braces, here’s a small list of different plates perfect for your new diet.
Bananas Foster Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a perfect meal for the first few weeks of braces as it offers little chewing necessary. The bananas foster oatmeal allows for 4 servings and only takes 30 minutes to get a flavor-packed meal.
Old-Fashioned Chocolate Pudding
A good Old-Fashioned Chocolate Pudding will be great to calm any sugar cravings while being safe for your appliances. Just remember not to make a habit out of eating this sugary treat.
Cold-Day Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup is the best Pick-Me-Up meal for those cold and slow days that come once in a while. Make sure to cut the chicken into small pieces and cook the vegetables to their most tender point and you’ll be able to dig in without any consequences.
Advantages of Invisalign When It Comes to Diet
After all the dietary restrictions we’ve seen for regular braces, we wouldn’t blame you for starting to look for alternatives like Invisalign in Enid. Fortunately for Invisalign patients, the huge advantage clear aligners have of being removable allows the wearer to eat anything they would like without having to worry about damaging the appliance. As long as you remove your aligners before consuming any food or drink other than water, there’s no risk to them whatsoever.
Staining could be a problem if you drink dark beverages with your aligners on. However, they could also stain from just regular use. To keep them as transparent as possible you’ll need to have a proper consistent cleaning routine. Remember to brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush every time you brush your teeth and rinse them thoroughly with warm, not hot, water whenever you remove the aligners.
Start Your Treatment With Us and Learn About The Best Food After Braces
If you are looking to get the beautiful smile you always wanted, require emergency orthodontics in Enid, or just wish to know what foods to avoid with Enid braces, here at Rose Rock Orthodontics, we’ll be happy to assist you in any way we can.
