Best Foods to Eat with Braces

We’ve all heard it before, “You are what you eat.” It’s true, isn’t it? What we put into our bodies has a direct effect on how we look and feel, and when you have braces, you have to be mindful of your eating habits. After all, it only takes one piece of candy to cause you unwanted discomfort and stress, so avoid this by listening to your orthodontist’s instructions.

When it comes to eating with braces, there are many different foods that you can enjoy; however, there are foods you want to stay away from as well. Here are the best foods to eat with braces, so you can get the most out of your treatment and adopt some healthy habits along the way.

Keeping Your Smile Healthy

When you have braces, healthy habits are essential. In addition to your overall oral hygiene routine, you’ll also need to watch what you eat to keep your teeth healthy and your braces unharmed. There are some foods that can damage braces, like sticky, chewy candy, hard foods, gum, popcorn, and nuts. Not only do these foods have the ability to damage your braces, they can also cause bacteria to form in the crevices of your mouth and between your teeth, brackets, and wires. This is why it’s best to avoid these foods, especially when you have braces, being that there are more spots for bacteria to hide and flourish.

Choosing the Right Foods

It’s important to stick to foods that are not only healthy, but easy to eat as well. Orthodontists recommend the following for patients with braces:

• Yogurt
• Cooked veggies
• Eggs
• Smoothies
• Tender meats

The key here is to stick to a balanced, healthy diet and choose nutritious foods that are low in sugar. Sugar can be a big culprit when it comes to the build up of bacteria in the mouth, so the more you can avoid it, the better. The last thing you want to deal with when you’re focused on perfecting your smile is tooth decay.

The Importance of a Healthy Smile

Having a healthy smile is more than just cosmetic, it can decrease your risk for developing some serious health conditions, like heart disease. Many people don’t realize the effects poor oral hygiene and poor nutrition have on the teeth, and many are surprised when they learn their choices have impacted their health too. Remember, when you have braces, what you’re eating not only matters for the success of your treatment, but also your overall health.

We’ve been lectured about the benefits of a healthy diet since we were young, and the reason for this is that it’s so important to our lives. When we take care of ourselves, we limit the risk of getting sick and having unwanted problems and stress. If you’re a patient who is struggling to find the best foods to eat with braces, speak with your orthodontist and they can help to guide you to the right choices. The great thing about taking this on now is you have a better chance of keeping these good habits throughout life, even after braces.