Foods to Avoid with Braces: Protect Your Orthodontic Treatment
Complete list of foods to avoid during orthodontic treatment and delicious alternatives to protect your brackets.
Introduction
A loose bracket or bent wire can delay your orthodontic treatment by several weeks. The good news? Most of these emergencies are preventable! By knowing which foods to avoid and which to choose, you protect your investment and keep your treatment on track.
At Centre Orthodontique du Dr David Benguira, we've compiled this practical guide to help you navigate your daily diet.
4 Categories of Foods to Avoid
🍬 1. STICKY Foods
Why? They stick to brackets and can pull them off, while being difficult to clean.
- Caramel, soft caramel → Alternative: Caramel pudding
- Chewing gum → Alternative: Mints that melt
- Gummy candies, jelly beans → Alternative: Smooth chocolate
- Taffy, toffee → Alternative: Chocolate mousse
- Licorice → Alternative: Soft fresh fruits
🥜 2. HARD Foods
Why? They put excessive pressure that can break brackets or bend wires.
- Whole nuts → Alternative: Nut butter
- Hard candies → Alternative: Candies that dissolve
- Ice cubes → Alternative: Cold drinks
- Popcorn → Alternative: Puffed snacks that melt
- Hard croutons → Alternative: Soft bread
- Hard pretzels → Alternative: Soft pretzels
🍎 3. Foods You BITE INTO
Why? Biting directly into hard foods can pop off front tooth brackets.
- Whole apples → Cut into slices
- Raw carrots → Grate or cook
- Corn on the cob → Remove kernels
- Ribs (bone-in) → Boneless meat
- Crusty baguette → Soft bread cut up
- Thick crust pizza → Thin crust, small bites
🥤 4. SUGARY Foods (in moderation)
Why? Sugar feeds bacteria and promotes cavities, which are particularly hard to prevent with braces.
- Sugary sodas: Promote demineralization around brackets
- Candies and sweets: Get stuck in appliances
- Sugary fruit juices: Prefer whole fruits (cut up)
Special Case: Popcorn
Popcorn deserves special mention! Unpopped kernels are bracket enemy number one. Even popped kernels can get stuck under wires and be difficult to remove. Our advice: Avoid it completely during your treatment.
What You CAN Eat
Proteins
- Tender meats (chicken, fish, ground beef)
- Eggs in all forms
- Tofu
- Cooked legumes
Dairy
- Soft cheeses
- Yogurt
- Milk and smoothies
- Ice cream (without nuts or hard pieces)
Starches
- Pasta
- Rice
- Soft bread
- Cereals softened in milk
Fruits and vegetables
- Bananas, grapes, strawberries, melons
- Cooked vegetables (broccoli, beans, squash)
- Applesauce
- Avocados
Practical Tips
- Cut everything into small pieces: Even "allowed" foods
- Chew with your molars: Avoid biting with front teeth
- Rinse or brush after: Especially after sugary foods
- When in doubt, skip it: Better safe than an emergency appointment!
Conclusion
Your orthodontic treatment is an investment in your smile. A few dietary adjustments during this period will save you emergencies, delays, and frustration. And remember: it's temporary! Your new smile will be worth these small sacrifices.
Questions? The team at Centre Orthodontique du Dr David Benguira is here for you!
Need personalized advice on your diet? Contact us!
Centre Orthodontique Queen Mary (Montreal): (514) 484-3718
Centre Orthodontique Rive Nord (St-Eustache): (450) 983-4233
