Food is an essential part of life and comes in a variety of forms. People are always finding new, innovative ways to create recipes and make their food taste delicious. While everyone has different tastebuds, we all eat our food the same way — with our teeth.
People are commonly born with crooked teeth, and oftentimes obtain braces to correct them. When patients receive this treatment, they have to be cautious about what they eat, so they don’t damage their braces or experience tooth pain. It can be confusing deciding what foods they should and shouldn’t eat, so we’ve compiled a list of foods that can be eaten with braces as recommended by dentists such as Dr. Rosie Aviles in Palm City, FL.
Tender Meats
Meat is high in protein and is an essential part of a balanced diet that people often eat two to three times a day. However, it’s important to choose meats that are easier to chew and won’t break your brackets.
The best meats to eat while wearing braces are fish, boneless chicken, and lean beef or pork. These require less chewing than tougher meats such as steak, lessening the risk of breaking a bracket or developing soreness in your mouth.
If you’re vegetarian or vegan and are looking for a meat-replacement option, try tofu. This is soft food that’s also high in protein and can be cooked similar to meat.
Cooked Vegetables
A good side to eat with lunch or dinner is cooked vegetables. While they might not sound appealing by themselves, they can be prepared in multiple ways to make them taste better. Brocolli, zucchini, and carrots are healthy options that will reduce the risk of damaging your braces and developing tooth decay.
The best way to cook vegetables to ensure they’re soft enough to eat include boiling, sauteeing, or steaming them. Adding adequate seasoning and even butter will help you enjoy this healthy, braces approved food.
Pasta
One food that is a favorite among many people no matter your eating preferences is pasta. This food is available in a large variety and is great by itself or paired with meat and vegetables. When cooked, pasta noodles are soft and require little chewing.
Different past options that are great to eat while wearing braces are ravioli, macaroni and cheese, fettuccini alfredo, and spaghetti. Check out this cooking site to see just how versatile pasta can be and learn to make multiple recipes with pasta.
Sliced Fruit
Fruit is often seen as a healthy snack to reach for, but those with braces need to be careful when eating fruit and should only eat soft fruits or when it’s prepared properly.
The best types of fruit to eat are berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. These are bite-sized and don’t put you at risk of breaking a bracket. If you crave fruits such as apples, make sure they’re sliced into small pieces rather than biting into a whole apple.
Frozen Yogurt
Although dentists such as Dr. John Conness in Circle Ottawa, IL recommend avoiding foods high in sugar, it’s perfectly fine to enjoy a dessert from time to time. If you do decide you want to indulge in something sweet, frozen yogurt is a great choice. It’s a soft dessert that melts in your mouth and requires no chewing.
Frozen yogurt is a healthier alternative to ice cream since it’s made from yogurt and often contains fewer grams of sugar. While the sugar levels are low, this sweet treat can still cause tooth decay over time. Make sure you brush and floss your teeth thoroughly after consuming frozen yogurt.
Foods to Avoid When Wearing Braces
To ensure your experience with braces goes as smoothly as possible, it’s crucial to avoid eating certain foods. Foods that are hard, sticky, or require a lot of chewing can damage your brackets and even cause your mouth to become sore.
Food to avoid consuming while you’re wearing braces include:
- Popcorn
- Candy
- Nuts
- Hard fruit (example: whole apples)
- Meat on bones (example: chicken wings)
What Happens If My Braces Break?
Eating foods not recommended by your dentist can damage your braces and cause harm to your teeth as well. It only takes one wrong bite to break a bracket. Foods such as corn on the cob or sticky candy can get stuck between your brackets and teeth, making it hard to remove all the plaque when brushing and flossing.
If your braces break for any reason, we recommend visiting your dentist right away to have them fixed. The longer you go without having your braces repaired, the more likely it is that your teeth will shift and become misaligned. Severely broken braces can become uneffective, and your misaligned teeth may eventually cause sleep issues, according to specialists such as Dr. Ralph Mensah in Mebane, NC.
Being proactive about what you consume and how you care for your braces will ensure that you don’t have to wear them longer than necessary.