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Braces can easily be damaged by certain foods. So, with that in mind, we’ve put together a guide on what foods your teen should eliminate from their diet.
If your teen has some dental issues like overcrowded or misaligned teeth or even bite troubles such as an overbite or underbite, their dentist has probably recommended that they get braces in order to correct those issues.
Orthodontic treatments such as braces can do wonders for their smile and their overall oral health as well.
However, having braces requires proper care. For example, your teen will need to make sure to brush and floss to get any food residue out of the brackets and wires to mitigate the risk of cavities. In addition, they’ll need to make some adjustments to their diet to avoid damaging the hardware.
At Hanachi Orthodontics in Gastonia and Mooresville, North Carolina, Farid Hanachi, DDS, PA, understands that you want to encourage your teen to take excellent care of their braces. So, in this blog, we review foods that your teen can eat and which to avoid.
Foods your teen can eat right after getting braces
While the actual process of getting braces doesn’t hurt, your teen’s mouth will most likely be pretty sensitive the first few days after their braces are put on. So, while they adjust to their new normal, we recommend having them consume a diet that consists mostly of “easy-to-eat” foods such as:
- Mashed potatoes
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Soup
- Bananas
- Scrambled eggs
- Pasta
Your teen’s tooth sensitivity should taper off after a few days, and then they can somewhat resume their usual diet.
Foods your teen needs to avoid while having braces
Braces carry a high risk of damage. Certain foods can damage the wires or bands or even cause a bracket to break off of a tooth. Because of this, these are some foods your teen needs to eliminate from their diet while they have braces:
- Popcorn
- Hard or sticky candy
- Nuts
- Ice
- Chewing gum
- Pretzels and chips
- Pizza crust, bagels, and hard rolls
- Crunchy fruits and vegetables
Your teen also needs to limit their consumption of especially sugary foods and drinks. This can lead to the formation of plaque which becomes even harder to brush away when you have braces. If plaque is allowed to build up, it can lead to tooth decay.
If your teen does damage their braces after eating something, make sure and come in and see us as quickly as possible so we can repair it. We proudly serve the Gastonia and Mooresville, North Carolina, areas.
To schedule an appointment with us, you can call your nearest office location or use our online booking tool.