If you’ve started your orthodontic journey with braces, you will have a straight, healthy smile in no time. You don’t want unnecessary delays complicating your treatment. Certain foods can damage your braces. You don’t want to spend your summer dealing with orthodontic emergencies. Here’s your go-to guide for summer foods to avoid while wearing braces.
Summer Foods to Avoid
Summer is full of many delicious foods that can tantalize your taste buds. However, many of your summer favorites can damage your braces or cause other complications. Here are the top foods you should avoid until your braces come off:
- Hard Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits and vegetables are loaded with vitamins and nutrients, but they can be bad news for your braces. Raw carrots, apples, and other hard fruits and veggies can cause a bracket to pop off or break an arch wire.
- Crunchy Bread: Crunchy grains can be difficult to bite and chew, which can harm your brackets and wires.
- Meat on a Bone: It’s best to skip meat on a bone because it’s easy to break a bracket or wire. Instead, cut your meat off the bone to safeguard your smile.
- Seeds and Nuts: Seeds and nuts are not only damaging to your braces, but they can also get trapped between your teeth and in your gums, leading to a dental emergency.
- Hard and Sticky Candy: Hard and sticky candy may satisfy your sweet tooth, but they can be impossible to remove from your braces, increasing your risk of cavities.
- Crunchy Foods: Taco shells, tortilla chips, and other crunchy foods are a recipe for disaster. It’s best to avoid any crunchy foods that may break your braces.
Summer Foods to Enjoy
Although there are many things you should avoid this summer, there are still several delicious foods you can enjoy, like:
- Fruit Smoothies: Fruit smoothies are a nutritional, cool treat to have on a hot day.
- Fresh Fruit Salads: You can still eat plenty of fresh fruits when they are cut into small pieces and made into a tasty salad.
- Soft Foods: You can enjoy many soft foods during summer barbecues, like baked beans, mashed potatoes, and potato salad.
- Chocolate: If you can’t resist a sweet treat, choose chocolate because it is easier to chew and rinses from your mouth quickly. However, ensure it doesn’t contain any caramel, nuts, or other ingredients that can compromise your braces.
Don’t forget to brush and floss after eating to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Take a break from your summer festivities to maintain your adjustment appointments with your orthodontist.
About Dr. James A. Hart
Dr. Hart earned his dental degree at Baylor College of Dentistry and completed his orthodontic residency at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Dental Medicine. He is a proud member of the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation. If you’re ready to achieve a straight smile, request an appointment through his website or call his office at (817) 760-2484.