10 Things You Should Never Eat With Braces and What To Choose Instead

Why Food Choices Matter During Orthodontic Treatment

Starting orthodontic treatment is an exciting step toward improving your smile and bite. Braces gently guide teeth into better positions, but the brackets and wires that make this possible also need protection. Some foods can bend wires, loosen brackets, or make it harder to keep teeth clean. This can slow down progress and may lead to extra visits for repairs.

To keep treatment moving smoothly, it helps to think of foods in two groups.
Hard or crunchy foods create strong pressure when you bite down.
Sticky or sugary foods cling to teeth and braces, making brushing more difficult and increasing the risk of white spots or cavities.

Understanding these risks can make mealtime easier and help protect your progress.

 

Foods That Can Damage Braces

1. Popcorn

Popcorn may seem soft, but unpopped kernels can cause big problems. Accidentally biting a kernel can bend a wire or loosen a bracket right away. Small shells can also get trapped and irritate your gums.

2. Nuts and Hard Seeds

Foods like almonds, peanuts, and pistachios require strong chewing, which puts pressure on brackets. Even snack bars with large nuts can cause trouble.

3. Ice

Chewing ice is a very common cause of emergency visits. Ice is hard and unpredictable, increasing the risk of breaking a bracket or bending a wire.

4. Hard Candies

Candy canes, lollipops, and jawbreakers can damage braces if bitten. They are also high in sugar, which increases the risk of white spots if pieces get stuck around brackets.

 

Sticky Foods to Avoid

5. Caramel, Taffy, Gummy Candy, and Licorice

These candies stretch and stick to your brackets. As you chew, they can pull on the hardware, loosening it. Sticky candy also makes brushing much harder.

6. Chewing Gum

Gum wraps around wires and gets tangled between brackets. Even sugar-free gum can be difficult to remove and may require help from the orthodontic team.

7. Crunchy Snacks

Hard pretzels, corn chips, and crunchy taco shells break into sharp pieces that can poke wires or push against brackets. These foods can also bend thin wires.

 

Foods That Put Too Much Pressure on Front Teeth

8. Whole Raw Apples or Carrots

Biting directly into hard foods puts strong pressure on the front brackets. You can still enjoy apples and carrots, but slice them or cook them until soft.

9. Thick or Crusty Breads

Bagels, baguettes, pizza crust, and other dense breads require a lot of chewing. This can pull on wires or loosen brackets.

10. Tough Meats and Meat on the Bone

Jerky, thick steak, or biting meat off the bone can strain your braces. Cut meat into small pieces to keep chewing gently.

 

How Food Choices Affect Orthodontic Progress

Braces are carefully adjusted so teeth move in small, steady steps. If a bracket breaks or a wire bends, the tooth it controls stops moving until it is repaired. This may extend your overall treatment time.

Sugar can create a different challenge. Brackets create small spaces where food collects more easily. If sugary foods stay on teeth, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that can weaken enamel. This can lead to white spots that may remain after braces are removed.

Being consistent with smart food choices and good brushing habits helps protect both your treatment and your long-term oral health.

 

What You Can Eat With Braces

A braces-friendly diet does not mean giving up flavor. It simply means choosing foods that are easier to chew and less likely to damage your appliances.

Soft Foods for the First Week

The first few days after braces are placed or adjusted, your mouth may feel tender. Choose soft foods like:
• Mashed potatoes
• Yogurt
• Scrambled eggs
• Smoothies
• Soup
• Applesauce

Eating softer foods during this time can help reduce discomfort.

Everyday Braces-Friendly Options

You can enjoy a wide variety of foods throughout treatment, such as:
Protein: soft fish, shredded chicken, tofu, beans
Dairy: yogurt, cottage cheese, soft cheese
Grains: soft pasta, rice, oatmeal, soft bread
Fruits and vegetables: bananas, berries, steamed veggies, thinly sliced apples
Treats: smoothies, soft cookies, ice cream without hard mix-ins

Preparing foods in smaller pieces or softer textures helps protect your brackets and makes chewing easier.

 

Eating Tips to Reduce Braces Damage

Cut Food Into Small Pieces

Taking smaller bites reduces pressure on your braces and makes eating more comfortable.

Chew With Your Back Teeth

Your molars are better at handling pressure, so use them to chew more often.

Use Orthodontic Wax

If a bracket or wire rubs your cheek, orthodontic wax can help prevent soreness while you eat.

Rinse and Brush Carefully

Braces create more places for food to hide. Using a water flosser or interdental brush can help clean around brackets more effectively.

 

Quick Reference: Foods to Avoid and Safe Alternatives

Risk Type	Foods to Avoid	Why They Are Risky	Safe Alternatives
Hard or Crunchy	Popcorn, nuts, ice	Strong chewing pressure can damage braces	Nut butters, soft fish, water (avoid chewing ice)
Sticky	Caramel, taffy, gum	Stick to brackets and may pull them loose	Yogurt, smoothies, soft cookies
Tough or Chewy	Bagels, jerky, thick crusts	Require strong chewing force	Soft pasta, rice, shredded meats
Front Biting Foods	Whole apples, corn on the cob	Pressure on front brackets	Sliced fruit, corn off the cob
Sugary	Soda, sticky candy	Higher risk of white spots	Water, milk, soft fruit

 

Ready to Protect Your Braces and Keep Treatment Moving

Being mindful of what you eat helps protect your brackets, lowers the chance of emergency visits, and supports healthier teeth throughout treatment. If you ever have questions about whether a food is safe or need help with a broken bracket or bent wire, the orthodontic team is here to help.

Kahan Orthodontics proudly serves families throughout Tarzana, Encino, Woodland Hills, Reseda, and Sherman Oaks. To learn more about braces or Invisalign options, schedule a free consultation and start your orthodontic journey with confidence.