If you or your child have dental braces, changes have to be made in the diet for the treatment to be successful. The American Dental Association warns that some foods must be completely eliminated from the diet because they can loosen or break the wires or brackets. These wires or brackets then need repairing, which will prolong the treatment.
Sticky Foods
Sticky foods must be avoided because they can cause the braces to pull apart and get loose. The American Dental Association recommends avoiding chewy foods such as caramels, chewy candy, chocolate bars, fruit roll-ups and taffy. Gum can take hours to pick off your braces. As well as being sticky, these foods also have a high sugar content. The consumption of sugar can build up under the brackets and wires, leading to tooth decay.
Hard Foods
Foods that are hard and crunchy when you bite them must be completely eliminated from your diet if you wear braces. Hard foods can alter the shape of the wires and brackets, even causing them to break. Hard foods include nuts, popcorn, hard candy, ice cubes, hard steak, peanut brittle and pretzels. When eating pizza, avoid the crust.
Large Food
Fruits such as apples and pears must not be eaten whole. Cut them into smaller bite-size pieces. Avoid eating meat off the bone, such as chicken wings. Cut the meat away from the bone first. Bagels and hard rolls should be avoided, too. Although vegetables are full of fiber, vitamins and minerals that are important for your health, don't eat them raw. For example, you can steam or boil carrots and broccoli before cutting them into pieces to eat.
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