Can You Eat With Short Term Braces On?

Can you eat with short term braces on? The short answer is, of course you can! However, like traditional braces, you must treat short term braces with care in order to avoid breaking them, and to ensure the best possible results. Since short term braces are usually worn for just six months, it’s worth taking precautions about what you eat. The restrictions won’t be for long, and will lead to a better, healthier smile once the braces are off.

The main rule when it comes to eating while wearing braces is to avoid foods that are hard, sticky or crunchy. These can break or bend your brackets, and can also get stuck in your teeth, leading to poor oral health outcomes such as cavities or gum disease.

Here are some foods to stay away from while wearing short term braces:

• Sugary, sticky food such as candy, especially sticky sweets like toffee, caramel, licorice and gummy candy
• Dried fruit
• Chewy food and sweets
• Crunchy or hard food such as popcorn, nuts, raw vegetables, apples, crusty bread.
• Stringy foods like spaghetti, or certain kinds of vegetables (squash, zucchini).

All the above foods pose risks of becoming caught in, or damaging the brackets.

In addition, it is best to avoid all sugary food, even things that are easier to eat like cakes, ice cream, pies, white bread and cookies. If you must eat these foods, make sure to brush your teeth or swish your mouth with water immediately after. Sugar and acid are very harmful to your braces, and to your teeth, so it’s best to avoid sugary or acidic foods in general and especially before sleeping.

It’s very important to avoid sugary drinks like pop, juice and sports drinks. Try replacing these drinks with water. Even fruit juices with no sugar added are still high in natural sugars and should be avoided. When eating, it is best to cut food into small, easy to chew pieces. This will keep brackets from being damaged or breaking.

The best way to keep your mouth healthy while wearing short term braces is to be vigilant about dental hygiene. Since having braces makes it harder to reach spots in the mouth, you may become more prone to plaque buildup which can lead to gum disease or cavities. You can buy floss threaders from drug stores, or ask your orthodontist or dentist if they have any. Threaders will allow you to floss between and underneath the brackets.

Contact Dr. Silberman today for more information about short term braces!