A child who has just had braces put on may feel self-conscious as well as uncomfortable. Braces on the teeth can take some getting used to, and your child's mouth may be sore for several days after getting braces and following periodic adjustments. While it is not necessary to put your child on a special diet, you should choose the right foods to give your child some relief from the discomfort, as well as protect the teeth and braces from damage.
Fruits and Vegetables
New braces often cause small sores on the tongue and inner cheeks while the skin gets used to rubbing on them. These sores can be sensitive to the citric acids in fruits like oranges and grapefruit. According to orthodontist Dr. J. Lawrence Hutta, whole hard fruits, such as apples, corn or carrots, may damage the brackets or bend the wires when a child bites into them.
When your child's mouth is sore, stick to softer fruits and vegetables, such as peaches, apricots, cucumbers and tomatoes. You can also blend fruits into smoothies. When the pain is diminished, your child can eat hard produce if it is cut into bite-sized pieces. Baked, steamed or boiled vegetables are soft and easy to eat, so try dishes with squash, mashed potatoes or beans.
Meat and Dairy
Most dairy products such as yogurt, cheese and eggs are suitable for braces, and they contribute calcium to your child's developing teeth and bones. Meat can be difficult for braces-wearers to eat, even if they have been wearing braces for a long time. Stringy meat can get can caught in the wires and is difficult to remove. Tough cuts of meat are hard to chew when the child's mouth or gums are sore from new or newly adjusted braces. If your child's mouth hurts, avoid meat or serve a soft substitute, such as tofu. Later on, chicken cut into small pieces, ground meat and slow-cooked meats such as barbecue or crock pot meals for your child.
Sweets
In general, avoid eating too many sweets while the braces are on, because the wires can trap the sugars against the teeth and cause decay. If your child eats sweets have him or her brush her teeth right away. According to Kids Health, sweets that are hard, sticky or gummy should be avoided because they can damage the braces or pull them off the teeth. If you want to give your child an occasional treat, stick to soft sweets such as cakes, puddings and gelatin desserts. Cold drinks, ice cream and milkshakes are soothing for sore teeth and gums.
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