If you indulge in too much sugar when you have braces, you could end up with a spotty surprise when they come off. Sugar results in acids in the mouth, which can cause decay. When grime builds up under your braces, it may leave white spots behind.
Can You Eat Chocolate and Sweets with Braces? Yes, you can eat some chocolates with braces, but in strict moderation and only during meal times. As a rule of thumb, it's best to go for options that are low in sugar. Sweets, on the other hand, should be avoided.
Sugary Foods to Avoid with Braces
It's also best to avoid pretty much all types of candy, which not only can have excessive sugar but may also be too crunchy or sticky and can loosen the hardware on metal braces.
While you are wearing braces, please avoid eating hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar. Hard foods can break or damage the wires and brackets, and sticky foods can get caught between the wires and brackets.
Even candy that is soft in the middle with a hard shell can also be bad for your braces. Skittles® Runts®, Sweettarts, and M&Ms® should be avoided if you have braces, as the shell could get wedged under your wire or pop off your brackets.
Although many people know to avoid candy and sugar, most people still drink soft drinks, which is basically just liquid candy. The press release also warns that sugar free soda is still very bad for your teeth, and should be avoided during orthodontic treatment.
Candies like Starbursts, caramels, Tootsie Rolls, gummies, or toffees are a big NO for braces. Hard candies like Jolly Ranchers or lollipops are OKAY if you make sure you don't bite into or chew on them.
What about candies like M&Ms and Skittles? Unfortunately, the small size of these candies makes them an enemy to braces. Even if you eat just one piece at a time, the candy can get under the wire and pop off a bracket when you bite down.
Sugary, acidic and carbonated drinks can weaken the adhesive attaching brackets of your braces to your teeth. They can also increase the risk of a bracket popping out and allow bacteria to get underneath the bracket and start creating a cavity.
Drinking too much soda while you're wearing your braces could stain the brackets of your orthodontic treatment, but that isn't the only problem. Your precious tooth enamel is vulnerable to acid attacks. When you sip on soda, you greatly increase the chances that you'll suffer from tooth decay and cavities.
DON'T: Hard candies.
They can break your braces, too. Watch out for jolly ranchers, butterscotch candies (which will also be sticky), Lifesavers, Nerds and even Tic Tacs. These candies all have a reputation for popping off brackets, bending wires and even chipping teeth. Just say no!
Can you eat pizza with braces? Yes! You certainly can, as long as you avoid crusts and toppings that are too tough and hard, sticky, or stringy, and eat in small, careful bites. Of course, it's also essential to clean your teeth and the metal wires after eating for optimum dental health.
Make sure that you and your partner keep your tongues away from your braces. Like lips, the tongue can be cut or caught by your dental appliance, and that will definitely ruin the moment. Dental wax can make your braces more comfortable, and can make kissing more enjoyable.
Here are some things to expect and some tips to help ease the adjustment period: Braces will feel strange on your lips and tongue. It's normal to be a little fidgety, moving your lips over the braces or touching the braces with your tongue.
Chocolate: Soft milk or white chocolate is 100% safe to eat with braces, as long as there's no sneaky caramel, toffee or nuts hiding inside. Stick to treats like Hershey's kisses or even Kit Kat bars.
Can I Eat Fries with Braces? Yes – you may eat fries – but you need to make sure that you're brushing your teeth properly and after every meal. Remove any leftovers with a proxy tip or floss tip.
Dairy products like yogurt, milk, and soft cheeses are all safe if you have braces. Like any foods consumed with braces, just make sure you brush and floss to remove any leftover particles from your smile.
What about alcohol? Like we mentioned, there are no restrictions when it comes to beverages when you have clear braces or metal braces. Drinking with braces won't damage your bracket and wires.
Eating With Braces
This will make it difficult to eat the foods that you normally love. However, as you start to get used to the treatment you will be more willing to try different foods with your braces. In fact, about two weeks after you start braces you will be able to eat normal foods again.
Myth #1 – You Can't Eat a Normal Diet With Braces
How this myth got started is beyond comprehension. While most orthodontists worth their salt will urge you not to eat excessive sugar or sticky foods that could gum up your braces, your normal, regular diet shouldn't be affected at all.
Any type of hard and crunchy food is something you will want to avoid while wearing your braces. Chips like Fritos, Doritos, Tostitos, Cheetos, Takis, as well as pretzels and other hard breads are foods that can not only damage your wire, but also cause your brackets to break.