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Foods to Avoid with Braces

April 22, 2022 10:39 pm

Traditional braces can transform your smile by efficiently straightening virtually any kind of misalignment! Advances in orthodontics has made metal braces smaller, more comfortable, and less noticeable than ever before. However, there are still certain foods you should avoid during your treatment to protect your braces from damage and your teeth from decay and discoloration.

  1. Popcorn

    2. While it’s a favorite snack during movies, popcorn is a problem for braces. Even for those without braces, popcorn is infamous for getting stuck in between your teeth. That becomes even worse with braces. Pieces get stuck under the wires, between your teeth, and below your gums. Unpopped kernels can also damage your braces and crack a tooth.

  2. Chips & Pretzels

    3. Hard and crunchy foods, like chips, pretzels, hard crackers, and crusty bread, can bend and break the delicate wires of your braces. Pieces can also get stuck around your brackets and be difficult to clean out.

  3. Hard & Sticky Candy

    4. Candy provides no nutrients for your body except quick energy, while providing fuel for harmful oral bacteria. Bacteria eats this sugar and produces toxins that erode your enamel and increase your risk of cavities. Sticky candy like caramel, gummies, nougat, and taffy lingers on your teeth and braces, allowing bacteria more time to produce damaging acids. Sticky and hard candy can also damage your braces.

  4. Jerky

    5. All jerky, whether it’s meat or plant-based, is chewy and tough. Eating a piece can loosen your brackets and bend the wires.

  5. Raw, Crunchy Vegetables & Corn on the Cob

    6. Veggies are healthy and should be part of everyone’s diet. But biting into corn on the cob and eating raw vegetables like carrots, beets, jicama, and celery can break your wires and loosen the brackets. Stick to loose corn kernels, cooked vegetables, and raw vegetables cut into very small pieces.

Braces in Houston, TX

At The Smile Club Dentistry & Orthodontics, we provide both clear aligners and braces. During your consultation, our team can determine which treatment is right for you based on your misalignment, budget, and lifestyle. If you have questions about braces or our other services, please contact us today!

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