Eating with Braces: A Guide to Safe and Comfortable Meals
One of the most common questions we hear at MacKenzie Orthodontics is what patients can eat once their braces are on. Whether you visit our offices in Saint John, Quispamsis, or St. Stephen, wearing braces does not mean giving up variety in your diet. It means being more deliberate about food choices, particularly foods that can damage your brackets and wires or cause unnecessary discomfort.
Foods That Work Well with Braces
In the first few days after getting your braces, or after an adjustment, your teeth and gums may feel tender. Soft foods are the most comfortable option during this time, and cool foods such as smoothies or applesauce can help ease soreness.
- Dairy: yogurt, Greek yogurt, soft cheeses, and cottage cheese
- Grains: soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts, and cooked pasta or rice
- Protein: scrambled eggs, flaky fish such as salmon, deli meats, and soft-cooked chicken or meatballs
- Fruits and vegetables: bananas, applesauce, mashed potatoes, steamed carrots, and beans
If you enjoy fresh berries in season, rinse well afterward, since small seeds can become lodged behind your wires.
Foods to Avoid
To prevent broken brackets and bent wires, which can mean extra appointments and a longer treatment time, avoid the following:
- Hard and crunchy foods: popcorn, ice cubes, hard pretzels, and nuts
- Sticky and chewy foods: caramel, taffy, gummy candy, and chewing gum, unless it is labelled orthodontic-safe and sugar-free
- Tough crusts: pizza crust, crusty bread, and hard bagels
- Foods that require biting directly into them: corn on the cob, whole apples, and raw carrots
Foods You Can Still Enjoy, with a Few Adjustments
Many foods do not need to be avoided entirely. They simply need to be prepared differently:
- Slice apples and carrots into thin wedges or matchsticks rather than biting into them directly
- Cut corn off the cob rather than eating it on the cob
- Cut pizza and burgers into smaller pieces rather than taking a large bite with your front teeth
Cutting food into smaller pieces, chewing with your back teeth, and drinking water throughout the day all help reduce strain on your brackets and wires. If you are eating out, packing a lunch, or attending an event, planning your food choices ahead of time makes it easier to stay on track.
Eating with Invisalign or Clear Aligners
If you are being treated with Invisalign or Angel Aligner at MacKenzie Orthodontics, your food guidelines are different. Because the aligners are removable, you can eat the foods you normally would. Remove your aligners before eating or drinking anything other than plain water, and brush your teeth before placing them back in to avoid staining and cavities.
Support Throughout Your Treatment
If you bite into something too crunchy and notice a loose wire or bracket, contact one of our three offices in Saint John, Quispamsis, or St. Stephen.
I am Dr. MacKenzie, an orthodontist with over 20 years of experience serving Saint John, the Rothesay and Quispamsis area, and Charlotte County, New Brunswick. I have offices in uptown Saint John, Rothesay, and St. Stephen. To schedule a free consultation, visit our free consult page.
Learn more on our Braces page, and see our Oral Hygiene During Orthodontic Treatment page for related information.