What You Should and Shouldn’t Eat When You Have Braces

braces Dubuque, IA

Braces are a great way to gain an attractive smile, ensure your keep good oral health and have more confidence each and every day. However, the quality of the results, in many instances, is largely dependent on how well the patient cares for the braces and their oral health during treatment.

How to eat with braces

Braces require many people to alter their diet, and there are certain foods that may become off limits during treatment. It is important to have a full understanding of what foods to avoid and what foods are more recommended with braces, and the following is a complete overview of how to eat properly when living with braces.

What to eat

Ideally, it is best to stay with softer foods that do not contain a high level of carbohydrates. In order to do so, making small adjustments to your meals may be required, such as not adding nuts to your salad and limiting your intake of sugar. A few examples of foods that are good to eat with braces include dairy products such as eggs and yogurt, bananas and cooked vegetables. It is also important to keep in mind that eating is likely to be the most challenging after the wires are adjusted since there is likely to be more pain during this time. Subsequently, foods such as mashed potatoes, peas and soup might make for great options until the pain goes away.

What not to eat

Perhaps the more important question is what you should not eat when wearing braces. Whereas eating soft foods is encouraged, avoiding harder foods or foods high in sugar is strongly encouraged. The reason for this change is because harder foods can damage brackets and the wire and result in the need for more frequent trips to the orthodontist for treatment. Common foods to avoid when wearing braces may include but not be limited to hard candy, chewy foods, popcorn, ice and hard fruits and vegetables. Making the necessary accommodations to your diet may require cooking foods to soften them, switching out apples and other hard fruits for bananas and cutting out as much sugar as possible.

How to care for braces

Of course, one of the best ways to ensure braces are well-cared for is to make the necessary changes to your diet, but there are other important things that should be done to ensure the braces remain in good condition and the teeth are healthy. In addition to dietary changes, be sure to practice good oral hygiene by brushing, flossing and using mouthwash consistently, frequently check for any signs of oral health complications or issues with your braces and visit the orthodontist for all scheduled check-ups and treatments.

Talk to an orthodontist today

If you want to learn more about braces and determine whether they are right for you, get in touch with us today and schedule a time to come in to see us. We can guide you through the entire braces process and help you maintain good oral health throughout treatment.

Are you considering braces in the Dubuque area? Get more braces information at https://www.bracesbyabbadent.com.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

Recent Posts

Invisalign Treatment Can Align Your Teeth

Invisalign® treatment can be used to gradually align your teeth through plastic trays that your dentist changes every two weeks. As the teeth move, you will not need to wear the plastic trays anymore, and the results are clear, natural-looking teeth with healthy gums and fresh breath. In this article, we'll take an in-depth look…

Adult Braces Before And After: What To Expect When They Come Off

If you have adult braces, you might be wondering what it will be like when they come off. The good news is that you will likely get used to the feel of your new smile quickly. You will receive a retainer to help you keep your teeth in place. Read on to learn more.While a…

What Are Corrective Braces?

Corrective braces are ideal for achieving an attractive smile as they can create a symmetric and even smile. This can also provide oral health benefits and reduce the risk of concerns like cavities. In this review, we discuss the basics of corrective braces to help you decide if they may be right for you.Here is…

Who Is A Good Candidate For Ceramic Braces?

Considering getting braces? Read on to learn more about ceramic braces. For individuals who want to straighten their teeth discreetly, ceramic braces are an excellent choice. They are a great method for straightening teeth without attracting too much attention. Metal braces were previously the standard for orthodontic therapy, but they are visible on the patient's…

Recent Posts

Invisalign Treatment Can Align Your Teeth

Invisalign Treatment Can Align Your Teeth

Invisalign® treatment can be used to gradually align your teeth through plastic trays that your dentist changes every two weeks. As the teeth move, you will not need to wear the plastic trays anymore, and the results are clear, natural-looking teeth with healthy gums and fresh breath. In this article, we'll take an in-depth look…

Adult Braces Before And After: What To Expect When They Come Off

Adult Braces Before And After: What To Expect When They Come Off

If you have adult braces, you might be wondering what it will be like when they come off. The good news is that you will likely get used to the feel of your new smile quickly. You will receive a retainer to help you keep your teeth in place. Read on to learn more.While a…