Foods to Avoid with Braces (and What to Eat Instead)

Braces are strong, but brackets and wires can break when they meet the wrong snack. Knowing the foods to avoid with braces can save you from surprise repair visits and keep treatment on schedule. The good news? There is still plenty of delicious food on the menu.

Why Some Foods Cause Problems

Hard foods can snap brackets off the teeth or bend wires. Sticky foods cling to brackets, pull on them, and trap sugar against the teeth, raising the risk of cavities and white spots. Chewy foods put extra strain on the appliance. Every broken bracket can add time to treatment.

Foods to Avoid with Braces

Hard Foods

• Ice, one of the most common bracket breakers
• Hard candy and lollipops
• Nuts and hard pretzels
• Popcorn, including those sneaky hulls
• Hard taco shells and very crunchy chips

Sticky Foods

• Caramel, taffy, and gummy candy
• Chewing gum
• Fruit snacks and fruit leather

Chewy Foods

• Bagels and hard rolls
• Beef jerky
• Tough cuts of meat

Foods You Bite Into

Whole apples, raw carrots, and corn on the cob are healthy, but biting into them can pop off front brackets. Slice apples and carrots thinly and cut corn off the cob instead.

Braces-Friendly Foods to Enjoy

• Yogurt, smoothies, and milkshakes
• Soft fruits like bananas, berries, and applesauce
• Pasta, rice, and mac and cheese
• Eggs, tender chicken, and fish
• Soups, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables
• Soft breads, pancakes, and muffins without nuts

Eating in the First Few Days

Your teeth may feel sore for a few days after braces go on and after adjustments. Stick with very soft, cool foods like smoothies, yogurt, and soup during that time. Cold foods can be especially soothing, and the tenderness usually fades within a few days.

Easy School Lunch and Snack Ideas

Packing lunch for a child with braces does not have to be complicated. Try pasta salad, a soft turkey and cheese wrap, cottage cheese with berries, hummus with soft pita, or a thermos of soup or chili. For snacks, reach for string cheese, yogurt tubes, soft granola bars without nuts, banana slices, or a smoothie. Keep a travel toothbrush and a small mirror in your child’s backpack so they can clean their braces after eating at school.

Tips for Protecting Your Braces

• Cut food into small, bite-size pieces and chew with your back teeth.
• Do not chew on pens, pencils, or fingernails.
• Limit sugary and acidic drinks, and rinse with water afterward.
• Brush after meals so food does not get trapped around brackets.
• Wear an orthodontic mouthguard for sports.

What If Something Breaks?

If a bracket comes loose or a wire starts poking, do not panic. Cover any sharp spots with orthodontic wax and call our office. Our orthodontic emergency care page has quick at-home fixes to keep you comfortable until your visit.

More Tips for Life with Braces

For a complete guide to eating, cleaning, and staying comfortable, visit our life with braces page. Prefer a removable option with no food rules? Learn about Spark clear aligners. If you or your child is ready to start, we offer free consultations at our Brighton office.