Foods to Avoid

For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.

Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:

Gum (sugar-free or regular)
Suckers
Hard Candies/Breath Mints
Skittles
Tootsie Rolls
Caramels
Starburst/Laffy Taffy

Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:

Ice
Nuts
Hard Taco Shells
Popcorn
Corn on the Cob
Apples and Carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
Bagels/Hard Breads
Chips
Granola Bars
Pizza Crust
Beef Jerky

Minimize Sugary Foods like:

Cake
Ice Cream
Cookies
Pie
Candy

Only Once a Day:

Soda
Sweetened tea
Gatorade
Kool-Aid
Drinks with sugar

It’s important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office immediately to arrange an appointment for repair.