Braces-Safe Eating Tips for Teens

Academy Dental is a warm, inviting SPA-themed dentist facility in Hamilton, and is rated as one of the best places by Hulafrog for dental treatment. Dr. Navleen Thind, D.D.S. is a trusted dentist who practices adults and kids’ dentistry, along with Dr. Steven Reff, Dr. Pankaj Puri (Orthodontist) and Dr. Roshanjit Kaur. 

Braces function as a great investment for a beautiful and healthy smile for the rest of your life. In order to get the best results from your braces, it is essential that you follow the care instructions and tips provided by your orthodontist. Certain foods are more likely to break components of your braces, and others are more likely to cause plaque that can be hard to remove with braces. To avoid damage to the rubber bands, wires, or brackets, as well as to avoid plaque buildup, below we have provided some braces eating tips:

• Avoid chewy or sticky foods- Chewy and sticky foods can loosen brackets and cause wire damage, making the braces ineffective and in need of repair. Chewy foods include bagels, hard rolls, or chewy candy, such as licorice, while sticky foods refer to foods like caramel or gum.

• Avoid hard or crunchy foods- Brackets can also be dislodged by eating hard or crunchy foods, such as nuts, popcorn, ice, and hard pretzels. There are also hard foods that can be eaten, but should be cut up first. These foods include raw vegetables, hard fruits, such as apples, and corn on the cob. 
• Limit sugary foods and drinks- Sugar present in certain foods and drinks combine with saliva to generate plaque. This coats the teeth and is difficult to remove with braces, harmful because plaque buildup leads to tooth decay and gum disease.

Ultimately, in order to avoid prolonging the time you have to wear braces, unnecessary trips to the orthodontist, and damaging your braces, it is important to follow these eating tips!

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