What Foods Can & Can’t You Eat With Braces?
One of the most common questions our orthodontic patients ask after getting braces is, “What can I actually eat?” Knowing which foods are safe (and which ones to avoid) is important because, unlike clear aligners, fixed braces impose a much stricter set of dietary requirements.
This article will guide you through everything you need to know about eating and drinking with braces. By following these recommendations, you’ll protect your braces, help your treatment stay on track, and ensure the best possible outcome for your smile.
Why Do Braces Have Strict Dietary Requirements?
Braces rely on a network of delicate brackets, wires, and elastic bands to gently shift teeth into their proper positions, so eating hard, crunchy, sticky, or chewy foods risks bending wires, loosening brackets, or snapping elastics. This can lead to:
- Longer treatment length
- Additional appointments to fix any damage
- Extra discomfort
- Increased plaque buildup and heightened risk of tooth decay
- Potential additional costs to your treatment, if your braces aren’t through the NHS
What Can You Eat With Braces?
Let’s start with the different foods you can still enjoy during your braces treatment. Here are some of the most popular examples:
- Soft breads, such as pitta bread, tortillas, and sandwiches
- Soft fruits, such as bananas, kiwis, blueberries, peaches, and strawberries
- Soft vegetables, such as mashed potatoes, boiled carrots, and steamed broccoli
- Soft, low-sugar desserts, such as jelly, puddings, and ice cream
- Dairy products, such as yoghurt and soft cheeses
- Boneless or easy-to-chew meats, such as meatballs or poultry
- Boneless seafood, such as salmon, cod, or tuna
- Pizza (without the crust)
- Pastas, such as tortellini, rigatoni, and spaghetti
- Casseroles
- Soups
What Can’t You Eat With Braces?
Due to the dietary requirements that come with braces, these are some of the foods you should steer clear of until your treatment has finished:
- Nuts, such as almonds and hazelnuts
- Hard fruits, such as whole apples
- Hard vegetables, such as raw carrots
- Hard breads, such as those with sourdough crusts
- Soups or curries rich in colour, which can stain braces
- Sticky or hard sweets, such as sherbet lemons and cola cubes
- Crisps, especially those that are thick-cut
- Pizza (with a hard crust)
- Chewing gum
- Popcorn
- Biscuits
What Can You Drink With Braces?
There are several drinks which orthodontists recommend during your treatment (and outside of it, too!), including:
- Water, particularly still, unflavoured options
- Smoothies, such as those containing fruits or yoghurts
- Milk and unsweetened milk alternatives
- Low-sugar soft drinks
What Can’t You Drink With Braces?
Unfortunately, there are also a few beverages which can harm your teeth, and it is advised you steer clear of (with braces, and often beyond!):
- Fizzy (high-sugar) soft drinks, like Coca-Cola
- Highly acidic fruit juices, such as lemon juice
- Alcohol, particularly red wine or dark beers, which can stain braces
- Sweetened beverages
- Sports drinks
- Energy drinks
- Coffee and tea
What to Do if Food Damages Your Braces
If a bracket pops off or a wire bends after biting into something hard, don’t panic; most “orthodontic emergencies” like these are simple to fix. Contact your orthodontist as soon as possible to describe the issue; they’ll often fit you in quickly to reattach brackets, replace wires, and get your treatment back on track.
Even if the damage feels minor, keep your regular checkup appointments. Your orthodontist will inspect all the braces’ components, as sometimes small bends or loosening go unnoticed but can still slow your progress. Early detection and repair of these little issues help ensure your braces stay effective and your treatment time stays on schedule.
How to Make Eating and Drinking With Braces Easier
As you get used to wearing braces, the change in your chewing movement might feel a little “alien” to you at first. However, there are several things you can do to make it easier to eat and drink during your treatment.
Cutting food into small pieces can make it much simpler to chew, and you may even be able to eat some of the “non-recommended” items in moderation. For example, crunchy fruit and vegetables, such as apples and carrots, can still be enjoyed once they’ve been cut into bite-sized pieces. However, even smaller pieces of crunchy, sticky, or chewy foods can get stuck in or damage your braces, so they should be limited.
We recommend that you use a straw to consume any drinks that are high in sugar content, so that contact between the drink and your teeth is kept to a minimum. This will also help reduce the risk of staining your braces (and teeth, too!).
Contact Us for Practical Advice About Living With Braces
Many people may avoid getting braces due to the “fear of the unknown”. However, they are one of the most effective forms of treatment available to give you a healthier, more functional smile, offering long-term benefits as a result of a short-term process.
At Accessible Orthodontics, our knowledgeable care team is here to debunk any myths, settle any anxieties, and provide you with the practical advice needed to make the most of your time wearing braces. Led by Specialist Orthodontist Dr Orolloga, our experts are always on hand to answer any queries you may have - simply get in touch with us today!
