Five Foods to Avoid with Braces
During orthodontic treatment, it is necessary to make some dietary adjustments. Although your child should be able to eat normally once braces are in place, certain foods can increase the risk of both tooth cavities and damage to the appliance itself.
“It is important to be selective and choose the appropriate foods to eat when wearing fitted braces, says Dr Gina Kilfeather, group orthodontic advisor at Dental Care Ireland.
“Anything hard, sticky or difficult to bite into can pose a risk. Some foods may need to be sliced before eating, while others should be avoided completely. Each time a bracket breaks or a wire comes loose, it will likely set your child’s treatment back, so it is worth a little extra care and preparation.”
Five Foods to Avoid with Braces:
#1 Chewy and sticky sweets – Chewy and sticky sweets, such as caramel, toffee and chewing gum should be avoided throughout the duration of your child’s treatment. These types of treats can easily stick to brackets and wires, leading to a build-up of plaque, while also potentially bending or dislodging the braces.
#2 Hard or crunchy snacks – Hard and crunchy snacks like popcorn, nuts, crispy bread rolls, tortilla chips or pizza crusts can also be harmful to braces. Biting down on these foods can exert excessive stress on the braces, causing a bracket or wire to break. Meanwhile, the small fragments can become trapped, resulting in irritation and discomfort.
#3 Tough, chewy meats – While your child is wearing braces, it is generally best to avoid eating tough, stringy, or chewy meats such as well-done steak or ribs. These meats require substantial chewing pressure, which can quickly bend wires or shift brackets. It can help to first slice the meat into small, chewable chunks.
#4 Carbonated and sugary drinks – To help keep tooth decay at bay, it is best to limit fizzy and sugary beverages, including energy drinks and fruit juices. These drinks are both acidic and high in sugar, which can lead to tooth erosion and also encourage bacteria to breed. Ideally, opt for water or milk as a healthy and refreshing alternative.
#5 Foods requiring a front-bite – Although it is not necessary to eliminate them entirely, some fruits and vegetables can be problematic for braces. Biting directly into corn on the cob, whole apples or raw carrots, for example, can place undue strain on the braces and risk damaging the brackets or wires. It is recommended to slice these foods up rather than bite straight into them.
Dr Gina Kilfeather is group orthodontic advisor at Dental Care Ireland, an Irish-owned network of 37 established dental practices nationwide. For further information, visit www.dentalcareireland.ie