Having braces may be difficult for some kids, especially when trying to find the best snack when hungry. Don’t let braces get you down, there are plenty of choices even for those who have braces. If you have recently gotten your braces tightened, there may be some pain experienced in your mouth. By altering your eating habits to fit in with your braces, you will feel better and reduce the chance you have of damaging your braces.
Snacks To Avoid
While some snacks remain in the grey area when it comes to what you should and should not eat, there are some that are without a doubt bad for your braces. In most cases, this will include those foods that are sticky, or that require a great amount of force to chew. This includes things such as:
Raw Vegetables
Carrots, broccoli, and celery will all be damaging to your teeth when eaten raw. To still get these vegetables in your diet, cook them first making them softer.
Fresh Fruit
Fruit such as apples and pears are tough, and can easily get stuck in and damage braces. This is especially true when eating apples straight off the core. Consider eating canned fruit instead or other fruits that will not get stuck as easily such as oranges.
Chewy Foods
Chewy, sticky foods should be avoided at all costs while wearing braces. Things like caramel and chewing gum will get stuck in your braces and can sometimes pull the brackets of your teeth. In addition to this, be aware of dense foods such as bagels or rolls. These can be harmful to braces as well.
Hard Foods
Foods such as peanut brittle, hard candies, or ice cube will be damaging to your teeth when chewed.
Snacks To Enjoy
With all these restrictions, finding braces-friendly foods may seem difficult, but there are plenty of options out there. Search out these foods that will be easy to eat, removing the chance of damage from your eating habits:
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits are full of vitamins that are great for your teeth, like Vitamin C and Calcium. They’re also soft and easy to chew which reduces your risk of damaging your braces and teeth.
Salad
Instead of eating hard raw vegetables, opt for a salad to get the nutrients you need. This will be healthier for your braces.
Sugar-Free Candy
These should be options that are sucked on instead of chewed. Even if it has a little sugar it’s ok as long as you don’t bite down at all.
Dairy Products
These go well as part of a meal, or just a simple snack. yogurt, ice cream, and cottage cheese are all good options.
Choose to eat the foods that will be best for your braces. By making the better food choices for your braces, you will have fewer problems over the course of your orthodontic care. Taking good care of your teeth and appliances is the best way to keep your time with braces short.