Eating with braces

Wearing braces won’t put your life on hold, but we do suggest you make a few minor changes to your diet to ensure your teeth stay healthy throughout treatment. Following these guidelines will also help you to get the straight smile you’re after.

Brace-friendly food

One of the most common questions patients ask our orthodontists is, can they eat normally while wearing braces? The answer is yes. There are lots of yummy meals you can enjoy so there’s no excuse not to keep up a healthy, balanced diet.

Some of the foods we recommend you eat during treatment are:

• Smoothies, but try to avoid ones with berry seeds which can get stuck in your teeth
• Omelette
• Mashed potato and gravy
• Fruit and vegetables, but don’t bite into hard ones like apples, carrots and corn on the cob. Cut these up into small pieces or grate them instead.
• Porridge

Foods to avoid with braces

Hard, chewy and sticky foods, including chewing gum, must be avoided when you’re having orthodontic treatment as these have the potential to damage the brackets and wires, thus affecting your treatment.

You should also avoid highly acidic and sugary food and drink as this can contribute to plaque build-up and affect the condition of your teeth. If you’re craving your favourite boiled sweets, try these options as an alternative:

• Yoghurt
• Soft biscuits (or soften them by dunking them in milk)
• Macaroni cheese
• Grapes
• Pancakes and waffles

Most of the time you can eat what you want while having orthodontic treatment. Just be sure to brush and floss your teeth after every meal. This is obviously easier to do if you’ve been fitted with removable appliances, like Invisalign, but whatever type of treatment you’re receiving, good oral hygiene is essential!