What Can and Can't My Child Eat While Wearing Braces?

When your child gets braces, they must change their eating habits. Some foods cannot be consumed while wearing braces, but with a little effort on your and your child's part, this should not be a problem.

While some foods should be avoided entirely, many others are safe to eat with a little extra preparation.

Whole, crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, and pears should be avoided but are acceptable if cut into small pieces. Sticky lollies, such as caramel, are a no-no, and nuts and popcorn can also be problematic. Tough meat and beef jerky should be avoided as well.

Foods to eat when wearing braces

You can still eat most foods while wearing braces. Food can easily become stuck in your child's braces if they do not properly clean their teeth after eating. Foods that can be eaten while wearing braces include:

Bread - pre-cut loaves, soft tacos, and tortillas are all safe options.

Dairy - soft cheese, yoghurt, and dips go well with braces.

Grains such as rice, noodles, and all types of cooked pasta are soft and ideal for braces.

Pancakes, soft slices, and biscuits are examples of cakes and muffins.

Soft Meats and Chicken - Skip the crackling and enjoy roast, deli, and barbecued meats that aren't too chewy.

Cooked Vegetables - Most soft, cooked vegetables eaten with a fork are fine, so there's no reason for your child to refuse brussel sprouts.

Seafood- avoid bones and shellfish, but otherwise fish, crab, salmon, oysters, and mussels are safe to eat with braces.

Bananas, kiwi fruit, pineapple, strawberries, stone fruits (but cut them off the stone so you don't bite into them)

Sweet treats such as ice cream, jelly, smoothies, and milkshakes are acceptable. Of course, keep in mind the harm that eating too much sugar can cause to their teeth and overall health, so limit these to occasional treats.

Foods to Avoid When Wearing Braces

With braces, the following foods should be avoided:

Whole apples and pears – instead of biting into hard fruits, cut them into small, thin pieces.

Biting into a whole carrot or other raw vegetables can break the wire or bracket. To eat the carrots raw, cut them into thin sticks or rounds, or cook them to soften before eating.

Hard or crusty bread - not all bread must be avoided; only hard rolls, hard bread, and pizza crusts are problematic. Choose a soft bread or remove hard crusts.

Popcorn - Popcorn kernels can easily become stuck in braces or under the gum in a difficult-to-reach area without removing part of the braces.

Nuts - Because most nuts are hard, they can dislodge brackets and break wires. Nuts, both ground and flaked, are safe to eat.

Corn on the Cob - Biting into corn on the cob is a disaster waiting to happen. Before eating, cut the corn off with a sharp knife.

Tough Meat - Eat only soft meats that don't require much chewing.

Caramel-sticky foods can become entangled in brackets and arch wires, causing them to break. Even if a break does not occur the first time, the damage is frequently cumulative, and subsequent pieces may result in dislodged hardware.

Licorice - not only does black licorice look bad stuck in braces, but chewy licorice causes breakages as well.

Lollies - Most lollies are either hard or chewy, so be careful which ones they eat while wearing braces. It's also important to brush your teeth immediately after eating lollipops because the sugar can cause tooth decay and staining.

Beef Jerky - Some people enjoy this salty snack, but it requires a lot of chewing and can damage braces.

Chewing Gum - a stick of gum isn't much fun with braces. It's difficult to get it out once it's gotten stuck in the grooves of the brackets and around the wire.

Soft drinks with a lot of sugar can cause tooth decay. It is best to avoid sugary drinks when wearing braces. The sugar can remain on the teeth and stain them, making them more visible after the braces are removed.

During the first few months, you may need to remind your child of what they can and cannot eat. Show your child how quick and simple it is to cut up their snack into bite-sized pieces so they don't eat foods that haven't been properly prepared.