Foods to Eat with Braces

Don’t eat that, avoid that, and stay away from that other thing. When you got your new braces, we handed you a list of what foods to avoid. Today we are going to explore good options for foods to eat with braces. Buckle up — you’re going to enjoy the ride!

First Things First — Foods to Avoid

You should have a list to post on your refrigerator. If not, or if you lost it, you may print it from here. And with that — on to the good stuff.

Foods to Eat with Braces — the Good Stuff

The BEST news is that you can still eat pizza with braces. We do recommend that you stick to the softer crust or pan-style pizza. Also, be aware of topping selections. Bacon tastes incredible on pizza, but the small crunchy bits can damage your brackets and wires or get stuck. Load up on soft topping choices and go light on crunchy, hard toppings.

Also on the list of good stuff:

• Fish (tuna, crab cakes, and sushi count too)
• Chicken noodle soup
• Yogurt
• Cooked fruits and veggies (helloooo apple pie!)
• Eggs
• Smoothies (get your fresh fruits here)
• Dairy including soft cheeses and pudding
• Most bread and muffins (avoid nuts and seeds)
• Most meats and poultry (small bites are more manageable)
• Pasta and rice
• Soft fruits (applesauce, bananas, and juice)
• Sandwiches and toast
• SOFT tacos and burritos
• Most cold cereals (avoid granola-based or super crunchy cereals)
• Hot cereals
• Salads (Make sure raw veggies are cut small)

We hear you. Everything on the list is nutritious and “good for you” food. You want the really good stuff. Snacks. Just because you have braces doesn’t mean you can’t have snacks.

The Better Stuff — Snacks

Better tasting, at least. Not so much nutritionally speaking. But this is the list you’ve been waiting for.

Please be careful, but enjoy any of these and similar snack choices:

• Chocolate (More about this later)
• Cakes (Twinkies count)
• Ice cream and popsicles
• Cookies and crackers (Avoid super crunchy ones and cookies with nuts)
• Potato chips (Avoid restaurant-style, hard types)
• Cheetos and Pirate Booty
• Non-carbonated, low sugar drinks

Chocolate — we did promise a more extensive list.

• Plain M&Ms
• Plain Hershey’s Kisses
• 3 Musketeer bars
• Kit Kat bars
• Reese’s Cups and Reese’s Pieces
• Snow Caps
• Nestle Crunch bars
• Any chocolate bars without nuts and caramel

Do not freeze your chocolate, as that can damage your wires. We hope you are beginning to realize that having braces isn’t the absolute end of civilization. Watching what you eat is an excellent life-long practice so consider this an Olympic training period.

Dental Cleanings and General Care

One of the most essential parts of having braces is maintaining good oral hygiene. Brush regularly and make sure to remove food particles that may get stuck in the wires and brackets. If you can’t brush right after eating, rinse with water or mouthwash to flush out loose particles.

Get regular checkups during your treatment period, in addition to your orthodontic adjustment appointments.

Spain Orthodontics is here for you. If you have questions about your care, please contact us using the online contact portal. We can also be contacted by phone at (206) 693-3123, or via email at braceyourself@es.spainortho.com.