IN THIS SECTION:

Eating with Braces  |  Recipes  |  Types of Appliances  |  TMJ Questionnaire

What Foods Can I Eat?

Patients being orthodontically treated need to observe certain diet restrictions to avoid breaking their appliances. Appliances can tolerate only so much stress before giving way.

For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meat, hard breads, and raw vegetables. You'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Food to Avoid

• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, pizza crust, beef jerky
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice cubes
• Sticky foods: caramels, taffy, licorice
• Gum: only soft, sugarless gum is alright
• Hard foods: hard fruits such as apples, unless they are cut very thin, raw vegetables, peanuts
• Brittle foods: hard pretzels, crackers, corn chips, and taco shells
• Limited soda is alright! (Be sure to brush your teeth right after drinking a soda.)

Other Things to Avoid

•  Chewing fingernails, pens & pencils, Popsicle sticks, overcooked foods

Foods to Be Sliced or Broken Up Before Eating

•  Apples, chips, raw vegetables, corn on the cob

Back to Top