How to Maintain a Proper Diet With Braces

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How to Maintain a Proper Diet With Braces
Posted on 10/20/2021

When wearing braces, a healthy diet becomes important to maintain your oral health. Certain foods can damage your braces and your teeth. However, there are a lot of other foods to enjoy, and with healthy habits, you can have a balanced diet without giving up most foods you love. At Huls Orthodontics, we aim to educate all of our patients on what to do before, during, and after orthodontic treatment. If you’re struggling with what to eat while wearing braces, here’s what we recommend.

Emphasis Foods to Avoid

Certain foods can get stuck in your braces, which is why eating healthy is important. These include mostly sticky and hard foods that can potentially break the brackets and wires on your braces.

  • Sugary Foods- Sugar can stick to your teeth and increase oral acidity, which breaks down your teeth, causing tooth decay.
  • Sticky Foods- Caramel, jelly beans, fruit snacks/roll-ups, gum, and candies should be avoided.
  • Hard Foods- Popcorn, nuts, crunchy granola bars, ice, and whole apples can break wires and brackets.

Emphasis Foods to Enjoy

There are many foods to enjoy with braces. Here are just some ideas of what you can eat.

  • Breakfast: Try oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, or other hot cereals. Mix in fresh fruit and nut butter as well. You can also enjoy smoothies, yogurt, pancakes, and eggs for a healthy breakfast.
  • Lunch: There are many soft options for braces. This can include casseroles, pasta, salads, soup, wraps, and sandwiches.
  • Dinner: Recipes including a slow cooker make a tasty dinner. This can include chicken, fish, and beef. Meatballs and meatloaves are another very popular dinner choice for people wearing orthodontics. Pot-roasts are also a good option.
  • Snacks: While avoiding candy and popcorn may seem too limited, there are several convenient snacks to eat. Fresh fruit and vegetables can be cut into small slices and eaten with dip. You can also try cheese sticks and healthy yogurt. If you just can’t stay away from sweets, pick dark chocolate.

Emphasis Get Braces With Us!

Get braces at Huls Orthodontics today! Dr. Mark B. Huls and his staff provide customized treatment plans to everyone of all ages! Contact us today to schedule a consultation! If you have any questions/concerns, our Champaign and Monticello offices are here to help. We are excited to work with you towards a straighter, healthier smile!