Eating with orthodontic braces can be almost a challenge, especially during the first few weeks and after the brackets have been tightened. These can in fact press on the gums and cheeks, and you may not be able to chew as usual, because the teeth no longer fit together as they did before the braces were placed. As the treatment progresses and the teeth are moved, it will be necessary to continuously adapt the type of food and the way you eat. Here are some tips to help you eat with orthodontic braces.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Choose the Right Foods
Step 1. Choose tender foods
"Soggy" foods such as bananas, mashed potatoes, yogurt and scrambled eggs relieve pain on the gums and are not likely to break the attacks.
- Fresh and frozen fruit and vegetable smoothies are particularly relaxing immediately after putting on the appliance. Not only do they generally help relieve pain, but they're also a calorie high when made with nutrient-rich fruit, yogurt, milk, and leafy greens like cabbage. This is a great way to make sure you are getting the vitamins and nutrients you need when you can't eat solid foods.
- Pasta dishes, such as ravioli, spaghetti and macaroni with cheese are also a good choice.
- It is helpful to consult cookbooks and other sources so that you have an arsenal of recipes for healthy, tender and tasty foods. Cookbooks specifically dedicated to recipes for people who use the appliance are also available in English, such as The Braces Cookbook (in two volumes), Tender Teeth Cookbook, and Surviving Braces.
Step 2. Eat cold foods if you feel pain
Indulge in something chilled, like ice cream, popsicles, smoothies, or frozen yogurt. The cold temporarily relieves the pain caused by the device.
Step 3. Choose foods that can be purchased or prepared in different ways
For example, melon is often eaten in slices that can be bitten directly. However, it can also be prepared in cubes, which people with the appliance may find easier to eat. Choosing foods that are more versatile, or that can be prepared in different variations, offers more possibilities!
Due to its consistency, popcorn is quite unsuitable for most people who wear braces because it tends to settle in the gums under the hooks and cause irritation. However, it is possible to buy popcorn without pods
Method 2 of 3: Avoid Unsuitable Foods
Step 1. Avoid hard or very crunchy foods
Some foods are simply too hard to bite down safely if you have the appliance. As a general rule, it is best to avoid biting anything that could break or blow a binding or bend the metal wires.
- Hard foods to avoid include ice, hard candies, crispy donuts, pizza crust, croutons, nuts and seeds, to name a few.
- You should also stay away from foods that contain bones, such as ribs or chicken legs. Rather bone them and eat the meat.
Step 2. Avoid eating anything sticky or chewy
Sticky foods can stick to brackets and are difficult to remove. Very sticky and rubbery foods can also bend and pull the braces away from the teeth. In this case, you will have to ask the orthodontist for an appointment to have it fixed again; this can slow down the progress of treatment.
Stay away from: toffee, caramel, Skittles, candy coated with a sugar shell, Mentos, licorice and caramel chocolate bars. Peanut butter is fine
Step 3. Avoid foods that you would normally bite with your front teeth
This means foods like sandwiches, pizza, burgers, celery, carrots, and most of the fruit you can grab and bite into (like apples, peaches, pears, etc.).
Using your front teeth to bite into certain foods can damage brackets. It can also cause accumulation of food in and around the appliance, which can make you feel awkward
Step 4. Avoid stringy foods
This is especially necessary if you have a palate expander, where food can easily get caught. Be especially careful with foods that become stringy in the heat, such as mozzarella.
Step 5. Avoid high-sugar foods
Foods rich in sugars can form plaque and damage tooth enamel.
Sugar and plaque together create an acidic environment in the mouth, which can lead to swollen gums, tooth decay and discolored teeth. Remember the time and sacrifices you made to straighten your teeth before getting your hands on very sugary foods that harm them
Method 3 of 3: Eat Carefully
Step 1. Slow down
Chew slowly and carefully. The days when you took huge bites or "devoured like a wolf" food are over once you put the device on. SLOW is the new motto!
Foods that you used to eat with both hands should be eaten one at a time - like potato chips, for example
Step 2. Bite to the side
Especially for the first few weeks after you put the braces on or tightened your brackets, it may be impossible to bite into something with your front teeth. Instead, bite and chew with your side and back teeth.
Learning to use your side and back teeth more will also help prevent food from sticking to the braces in a visible way, which is what often happens if you bite into something like a sandwich, pizza or Mexican tortilla with your front teeth
Step 3. Make changes for the foods you like
While there are many foods that are better than others for your appliance, you don't have to eliminate all non-ideal foods from your diet. Instead, try to be creative and make appropriate changes compatible with the device.
- Cook hard or crunchy foods. Foods that require a sturdy bite like vegetables, could loosen the attachments on your appliance if eaten raw. However, many vegetables, such as carrots and celery, become softer when cooked. So cook them before eating them and thus you will avoid having to make an emergency visit to the orthodontist!
- For foods or meals that are filled with meat or vegetable pieces, such as tortillas, sandwiches and wraps, it is best to eat them with a fork and knife.
- Foods the size of a bite or served in a single portion, such as a sushi roll, are difficult to eat with the appliance. There is a risk of choking or retching if you eat the whole food. Instead, try to cut pieces and portions in half to make sure you can chew slowly and completely.
- Core or stone foods, such as apples, pears, and peaches, should be cut into thin pieces and not bitten. You can also eat corn on the cob by cutting lengthwise with a sharp knife and freeing the kernels.
Step 4. Consider alternative treatments if eating becomes too uncomfortable
If you find eating painful or unmanageable due to pressure from brackets or ulcers in the mouth, try applying orthodontic wax. The orthodontic wax forms a barrier between the brackets and the gums and lips and provides hours of pain relief for irritation.
