Eating the wrong foods can cause you to break your brackets or wires which may increase your treatment time and require extra unplanned visits to have them fixed. For the first week after you have your braces put on, your teeth will be a little tender. Try to stick to soft foods such as pasta and soups to minimise discomfort.
Try to avoid:
- Sticky and chewy foods such as caramels, minties etc. Not only can these pull your brackets off but also contain lots of sugar, increasing your risk of tooth decay.
- Hard foods such as nuts and pretzels
- Acidic drinks such as soft drinks or juice
- Biting into large or whole fruits/vegetables such as apples and carrots – cut these into smaller pieces first
Overall, it’s super important to maintain excellent home care habits while you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. We promise it’ll all pay off on the exciting day when you have your braces removed!