In our dental office, we use braces to transform the appearance of our patients’ smiles. This is important both for appearances and for the health of your teeth and gums. Crooked teeth, after all, creates spaces in your mouth that are difficult to clean, increasing the risk of both cavities and gum disease. Both adults and children can benefit from an orthodontics treatment, so it is never too late to begin straightening your teeth. The process can last anywhere from six months to a couple of years, depending on how crooked your teeth are to begin with. However, the results are fabulous.
While patients are wearing braces, they typically ask what foods they should and shouldn’t eat. This is one of the earliest questions that our patients ask because no one wants to risk breaking their braces and prolonging the treatment time. Remember that braces can be easily damaged simply because the brackets can pop off of the teeth and the wires can also break off. With that in mind, what you and do not eat is important.
Here are some easy foods you can eat while wearing your braces:
- Fruit. Instead of eating crunchy apples, switch to bananas, melons, and berries that are easy to bite into and chew. This will avoid the potential risk of having a crunchy apple push a bracket out of place. Simultaneously, apple pieces can easily become stuck in between the brackets and become difficult to get out, creating an often embarrassing situation. Stick with soft fruits so that you can eat what you want without the hassle.
- Cheese. A fantastic snack that is full of calcium and protein, cheese is an ideal food to carry with you or pack in your kids’ lunches. You can buy string cheese at the grocery store or even single serving slices that you can throw in a bag and go. This will help to give you the energy you need without the risk of irritating any of your teeth or orthodontics.
- Veggies. Eating plenty of vegetables is an essential part of any healthy diet. Raw veggies can often be hard and difficult to eat, similar to crunchy apples. You can, however, steam your veggies to get the same amount of nutrients and minerals without being difficult to chew. Many vegetables now come in a microwaveable bag so that all you need to do is steam and start eating. Sweet potatoes are an excellent option because they are full of nutrients and taste delicious without you needing to season them.
- Smoothies. If you are looking for a way to get a lot of nutrition at one time, drink a smoothie. You can combine some of your favorite fruits and veggies with vanilla yogurt or even ice cream to get fabulous snack or breakfast without worrying about something being stuck in between your teeth.
As a braces expert, you should know that even difficult foods can often be eaten if you simply plan ahead. For example, you may need to cut food into smaller pieces rather than biting through it. When you first get your braces, we recommend that you slowly try things to ensure that your brackets and wires don’t become damaged.