4 Dietary Tips to Consider as You Start Wearing Braces

Got braces? You might feel alone with that mouth full of metal, but you’re in good company. There are more than four million braces-wearers in the United States, and a surprising 25% of them are adults. One thing that every new orthodontic patient has in common is adjusting to a new, braces-friendly diet because many of your favorite foods can cause damage, tooth decay or pain. Whether you’re getting braces as a teen or older adult, these four dietary tips can make your smile transformation easier to stomach.

Your braces will be most painful when you first get them placed and after each adjustment. Be prepared with plenty of soft, easy-to-eat foods like soup, yogurt and pasta. Try replacing your breakfast cereal with eggs or a fruit smoothie, have soup for lunch instead of a sandwich and choose flaky fish like salmon over steak for dinner.

Hard foods can damage your braces, so you will need to say goodbye to nuts, popcorn and chips until you’re in retainers. Sticky foods like candy and peanut butter should also be avoided because they are difficult to remove from the wires and brackets, which increases your risk of tooth decay. If you can’t give up your favorite buttery movie snack or gummy treat, consider choosing invisalign over traditional braces.

Some seemingly difficult foods are fine to eat with braces if you take a few simple precautions. Remember to cut crunchy foods like raw fruits and vegetables into small pieces instead of chomping down. Tough meats and crusty breads should also be cut into bite-sized pieces. Try eating foods like sandwiches, pizza and hamburgers with a knife and fork if taking a bite is too painful.

The dietary restrictions that come with your new braces mean that you need to take extra care to get proper nutrition. Consider using a nutrition tracking app to make sure you get enough nutrients each day. Calcium is especially important to maintain the health of your tooth roots and enamel as you go through orthodontic treatment, so incorporate foods like milk, yogurt, fish and dark green vegetables into your diet.

Adjusting to your new lifestyle with braces can be difficult, but keep in mind that it’s only temporary. You will be back to enjoying all your favorite foods again in no time and doing it with a beautiful, healthy new smile.