When it comes to your braces treatment care, KCC Orthodontics strives for excellence. While we work hard on our end, there are some ways you can care for your braces and ensure your treatment plan stays on track. Certain foods can do damage to your braces by bending wires, loosening the bonding that seals the bands to the teeth, or breaking brackets away from your teeth. Similarly, certain drinks can stain your teeth and do harm to your smile. Remembering which specific foods and drinks are helpful or harmful can get confusing. In order to help with your braces care at home, we’ve compiled a list of foods and drinks you should avoid and foods and drinks you’re safe to enjoy.
Foods to Avoid
Hard foods:
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Peanut brittle
- Ice
- Beef jerky
- Jolly Rancher
- Blowpops
- Peppermints
Sticky foods:
- Taffy
- Caramels
- Gum – any kind including sugar free
- Gummy bears
- Jelly beans
Highly acidic foods:
- Lemons & limes
- Soft drinks
- Coffee
Foods to Enjoy
- Mashed potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Mac & cheese
- Ravioli
- Soups
- Tuna salad
- Baked fish fillets
- Pancakes
- Eggs
- Bite size steak/chicken
- Yogurt
- Ice cream
- Brownies
- Snow cones
- Avocados
- Smoothies
- Soft fruits
- Applesauce
Be Careful With
- Fritos, Doritos, or any chip snacks
- Hard bread rolls or bagels
- Pretzels (hard or soft)
- Crunchy cereal
Do not Bite Into
Large, hard, raw fruits and vegetables –
- Cut up apples and carrots
- Cut corn off of cob
- Cut all meat off of bone
- Cut up pizza
Our goal is to finish your orthodontic treatment as quickly as possible. Eating or avoiding certain foods and drinks is one way you can help us at KCC Orthodontics achieve this goal. We care about your orthodontic treatment. If you have any questions about specific foods, please contact our office.
