It is very important to keep away from certain foods during your orthodontic treatment. Eating anything hard, sticky or chewy can cause brackets to break, bands to loosen, bending/breaking of the arch wire and can even cause tooth decay. Foods high in sugar such as soft drink and lollies, cause bacteria in your mouth to start producing acids which can cause permanent stains, decay and damage to your teeth. If at any time you consume anything with high sugar content, make sure you drink and rinse thoroughly with water or simply brush your teeth immediately after.
Some examples of foods to avoid are:
- Biting into apples or carrots (it is ok to cut them into small pieces)
- Corn on the cob
- Ice (great for keeping your drink cold, but not good to crunch on with braces)
- Nuts
- Meat that may be on a bone
- Pork crackling
- Popcorn
- Hard candy
- Bagels, crusty bread or crunchy pizza crusts
- Muesli bars
- Chewy lollies (of any kind)
- Hard block chocolate, M&M’s, chocolate bars etc
- Caramels or fudge
- Chewing gum or bubble gum
Picking at your braces with your fingers or biting on your fingernails is not a good idea. Also chewing on items such as pens or pencils can break brackets and bend wires, so avoid doing this. Any damage incurred to your braces can prolong your treatment time.
