At Heller Orthodontics our goal is to help our patients achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. As your Laurel Invisalign and braces provider, our skilled and compassionate staff provide the care and comfort you need on your journey to your radiant new smile. At Heller Orthodontics, we strive to take an individual approach with patients, designing treatment plans that suit each patient's unique lifestyle. However, achieving a great new smile takes more than just visits to your Laurel orthodontist — it also requires you to take good care of your braces, and watching your diet is an important part of that process.
What Foods Should I Avoid While Wearing Braces?
While braces are made from strong materials and are attached to the teeth with powerful dental cement, they're not indestructible — and certain foods can damage or even break your braces. While you're wearing braces, you'll need to avoid any foods that are hard, crunchy, sticky, gooey, or full of sugars or carbohydrates. These foods carry a risk of damaging the components of your braces, while sugary foods increase the risk of tooth decay, which can totally derail your dental treatment.
Ultimately, you'll need to use common sense to decide which foods are hazardous for your braces, but as your Bethesda orthodontics provider, we’re here to help make the process easier. Keep reading to discover which foods to avoid while wearing braces.
Sticky Foods to Avoid
Chewy, sticky candies can dislodge wires or damage brackets, as well as provide a great risk for tooth decay. These types of candy include:
- Starburst
- Licorice
- Bubble Gum (even sugar-free!)
- Taffy
- Tootsie Rolls
- Toffees
- Caramels
Hard Foods to Avoid
Hard, crunchy foods may cause damage to brackets or wires as you chew. This includes food such as:
- Pizza crusts
- Hard taco shells
- Hard candies
- Corn on the cob
- Ice
- Chips
- Nuts
- Raw carrots or apples (these are acceptable if cut into small slices, however)
- French bread or crusted rolls
Sugary Foods to Cut Back On
While these foods may not cause direct damage to your braces, they do create a greater risk of tooth decay around your brackets.
- Candy
- Ice Cream
- Pie
- Cake
- Cookies
- Sweet tea
- Kool-Aid
- Soft Drinks
- Sports drinks
Keep in mind that this isn't a complete list, however. Treat the above as a guide to help you identify foods that can cause harm to your braces. In addition to watching your diet, it's important to avoid chewing on objects like pencils, pens, or your fingernails, as these can all break off brackets or otherwise damage braces.
Check your braces regularly for any signs of damage, and if you find anything broken or out of place, contact your Bethesda and Laurel orthodontist immediately. We'll provide further instructions and set up an emergency repair appointment at our office.
Schedule an Appointment with your Laurel and Bethesda Orthodontics Provider Today!
As your Bethesda Invisalign and braces provider, Heller Orthodontics is here to help you achieve a healthy, radiant new smile. We’ll guide you end-to-end through your orthodontic treatment and answer any questions about the process. If you’re ready to achieve a beautiful new smile or just have a few questions, contact us today. We look forward to seeing your smile!