For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.
Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:
- Toffee
- Licorice
- Caramels
- Starburst
Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:
- French or Italian bread crust/rolls
- Nuts
- Ice
- Pizza crust
- Corn on the cob
- Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
- Chips
- Uncooked carrots (unless cut)
Minimize Sugary Foods like:
- Fizzy (Carbonated drinks including the diet versions)
- Cake
- Ice Cream
- Cookies
- Sweets
It’s important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose or broken wire or bracket, call our practice immediately to arrange an appointment for repair. You will find useful information in your original treatment plan letter including our out of hours dedicated emergency telephone number.
Advice on orthodontic emergencies follow this link
If you are interested in learning new cooking skills which will suit you while wearing braces, you may wish to try out L’atelier des chefs who offer cookery classes with a “cook and dine” experience! They will be able to advise on the menus with softer foods.
