Best Foods to Eat when You Have Braces
If you’re looking to get a better smile, one of the best ways is still to get braces. While this form of orthodontic treatment is the most effective in most cases, it does come with its drawbacks. Among them is the fact that you will need to restrict your diet to prevent damage to your teeth. To help you figure out what to eat with braces, here are some suggestions.
Foods to Eat Right After Getting Braces
When you first get braces, you can expect some discomfort for a few days. However, after the first week, your teeth should feel much better, which can open up your diet a little more. But while you’re in that initial stage of having braces, you’ll want to stick to softer foods.
At first, your teeth may be too sensitive for most types of meat. However, softer protein sources, like fish, will be a healthy and tasty alternative. Eggs are also completely fine when you first get braces since they are very soft and easy to eat. Yogurt will be a good way to start out the day with muscle-building fuel. Another tasty breakfast item that should be totally fine with braces is pancakes, especially when paired with maple syrup!
You’ll of course want to eat plenty of fruits and veggies throughout the day. Be sure to stick to soft options, like bananas. When it comes to eating vegetables, you should stick to cooked veggies, like steamed broccoli or baked zucchini. Side dishes like mac and cheese are also perfect food items to eat to enjoy with a delicious meal while keeping your mouth comfortable.
Other Safe Food Items
While you’ll be able to expand your options a bit after the first week of having braces, you’ll want to avoid sticky or crunchy foods, including nuts, whole apples, tough steaks, and hard or chewy candy when you have braces. These foods can cause damage to your brackets or wires and set you back on our treatment progress.
Other meats, like chicken or pulled pork, and meat alternatives, like tofu, should be just fine to eat with braces.
If you’re looking for something to snack on, most chips or nuts will be off-limits. However, softer chips like classic Lays potato chips or Pringles are okay. Kettle-cooked chips and tortilla chips are going to be too hard for your braces. To satisfy your sweet tooth, you’ll have to forego most candy, unless you stick to plain chocolate or soft candy bars like Milky Way bars. You can also eat brownies or cookies for a sweet treat every now and then. Just remember to thoroughly brush after every meal and to floss every day to prevent tooth decay.
While it may seem like a challenge to keep up with your temporary diet while you have braces, it will be well worth it to get your brand-new smile on time. Contact Crescent Orthodontic Specialists today to learn more about food restrictions with braces and to see if orthodontic treatment is right for you.