For most people, adjusting to eating with braces is the biggest challenge they have yet to face! If you are one of those people, this brief guide compiled by the dental care experts at Lyons Orthodontics in El Dorado Hills is perfect for you!
How to Eat With Braces
- Opt for soft foods
- Avoid sticky or crunchy foods that could damage the brackets of your braces.
- Cut your food into smaller pieces.
- Take smaller bites of food.
- Eat slowly and chew your food carefully.
- Avoid biting into corn on the cob, apples burritos, and other similar foods.
- Use your back teeth to chew.
- If sensitivity develops while you eat, ask Dr. Tim Lyons for pain relievers.
You may notice that your teeth no longer fit together like they used to before you got the braces. Lyons Orthodontics experts explain that this feeling is due to the changing position of your teeth, and it can make the act of eating feel awkward. Eating slowly is the best solution to still enjoy your meal without putting your oral health and the orthodontic devices at risk.
What Are the Recommended Foods For When You First Get Braces?
If you just got new braces, or your current set has just been tightened, you are better off eating liquid or soft foods, like mashed potatoes, yogurt, meal replacement shakes and soup.
Dr. Tim Lyons, a Folsom orthodontist, recommends that you eat cold foods, like ice cream, to ease any discomfort or pain you may be experiencing. Make sure that those cold foods don’t have anything crunchy in them and avoid biting hard into them while you eat.
As you get more used to having braces, you can gradually shift back to your normal favorite foods. Talk to your Fair Oaks orthodontist for advice about when and how to make this transition.
As you decide what food to eat, remember that sections of your braces, such as the ligatures, may be stained by pigmented foods (beetroot, curry sauce and blackcurrants, for example). Try your best to avoid these foods as much as possible.
What Snacks Are Okay for People With Braces?
The professionals at Lyons Orthodontics in El Dorado Hills advise patients to refrain from eating snacks like crunchy chips and popcorn when they start wearing braces.
Softer snacks, such as applesauce, soft cheeses, soft cookies, and muffins are safe to eat if you wear braces. Although, don’t overdo the sugary snacks as a way to compensate for missing out on the crunchy snacks. Excess sugar isn’t good for your teeth and overall health, and getting braces can be a good time to adjust your sugar intake accordingly!
To make it easier to avoid overconsumption of sugary snacks, stock up on healthy snacks, like bananas, blueberries, and yogurt.
Recommended Eating Habits for People With Braces
Our busy lives have forced us into the habit of taking big bites of food eating in a hurry. However, if you wear braces, this style of eating will not only cause you pain, but it will also endanger the different components of the braces, like the brackets.
Dr. Tim Lyons recommends that you make a deliberate effort to bite small pieces of food and then chew them slowly so that you don’t put your braces at risk. Eating slowly can help you enjoy your food more and digestion!
Sterling Heights dentist, Dr. Farhart, suggests that another helpful eating habit is consuming plenty of water with your food. This habit is good for two main reasons. The first reason is it will help you swallow the small bites of food if you are finding it difficult to chew the food thoroughly. The second reason is the water you drink will rinse the mouth so that any food particles stuck on your braces are washed away. This makes maintaining oral hygiene even easier!
You must check your braces each day to see if anything is out of sync. If you see anything abnormal, contact us at Lyons Orthodontics immediately regardless of having a scheduled visit planned within the coming days. Prompt attention to any defect will prevent any injuries by damaged braces and allows your orthodontic treatment to stay on course!