Our Recommendations
There are certain dietary habits that are known to increase the risk of dental disease and the breakage of orthodontic appliances. Our goal is to minimize broken braces and tooth decay, which can extend the treatment time.
Foods which may cause tooth decay should be restricted while wearing braces. Sticky foods are to be avoided as much as possible because of the increased risk of dental decay and appliance breakage. These foods stick to your braces and remain on your teeth for long periods of time. Please make sure that careful brushing and rinsing take place immediately afterwards. After each snack or meal, vigorous rinsing with water is recommended even if a toothbrush is not available.
Examples of Foods to Avoid
Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice, jerky
Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, tortilla chips
Sticky foods: caramels, gum
Hard foods: nuts, candy
Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots (these foods should be chopped into little pieces and eaten in smaller bites)
Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.