Wearing braces requires an adjustment in your eating habits to prevent damage to your orthodontic appliances. Snack foods you may have enjoyed previously can easily get stuck between wires, causing damage to your braces or your teeth. Avoiding some foods altogether and using caution with others will limit the risk of damage.

What Foods You Shouldn’t Eat With Braces

When you have braces on, it’s best to avoid the following foods entirely:

  • Hard candy
  • Sticky candy
  • Popcorn
  • Nuts
  • Hard fruits that you bite into (apples, pears, etc.)
  • Corn on the cob
  • Potato and corn chips
  • Pizza crust
  • Bubblegum
  • Jerky
  • Ice
  • Very chewy foods

Foods to Eat With Caution

You might notice some items on the list above (corn on the cob, apples) are healthy foods. You can still enjoy these foods with braces; just have them cut into smaller, bite-sized pieces. The important thing is to avoid foods you have to bite off with your front teeth.

If you have questions regarding foods you should avoid, we are always here to advise you.

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