Woman refusing fried chicken and French fries, demonstrating foods to avoid for dental health.
Simply visiting your orthodontist and having your braces put on is not all that goes into the orthodontic process. There is plenty of other hard work that goes into making sure that the orthodontic process is a success. You will have to work on maintaining your braces, which means cleaning them and even paying attention to the foods that you eat. Unfortunately, some foods are not suitable for a patient with braces. Here are some of the foods that we at McCaffrey Orthodontics West Palm Beach recommend avoiding when you are wearing braces.
Hard foods can be problematic for a patient with braces because these types of foods can potentially damage or even break the wires or brackets of your braces. Some examples of hard foods that we recommend you avoid include:
  • Hard taco shells
  • Bagels
  • Pizza crust
  • Nuts
  • Chips
  • Carrots
  • Apples
Another type of food that can cause problems for a patient with braces is sticky food. Sticky food can get stuck in a patient’s braces and tug on the wires and brackets, which can loosen them and possibly even pull them off completely. Some examples of sticky foods to avoid are:
  • Gum
  • Caramel
  • Toffee
  • Starburst
  • Tootsie Rolls
  • Licorice
Unlike the two previous categories of foods, you will not need to completely forego sugary foods. However, as these foods are packed with sugar, it is important to limit yourself in consuming these as they can cause tooth decay and other oral problems. Some examples of sugary foods include the following:
  • Cake
  • Pie
  • Cookies
  • Ice cream
  • Soda
  • Sweet tea
  • Gatorade
If you have any further questions about what you should and should not be eating while you are wearing braces, please feel free to contact our orthodontist today and learn more about orthodontics in West Palm Beach, Florida. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kevin McCaffrey, we encourage you to give us a call at 561-964-5200. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Orthodontist in professional attire smiling at camera in modern dental office setting.