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/candy can get caught between the brackets and wires, resulting in breakage. 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:

Bubble Gum (Exception: sugar-free gum is ok to chew)
Licorice
Sugar Daddies
Toffee
Tootsie Rolls
Caramels
Starburst, Now & Laters, similar sticky candy

Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:

Ice
Nuts
Hard taco shells
French bread crust/rolls
Corn on the cob
Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
Bagels
Chips (Exception: Baked Cheetos, Regular Lays, Baked Lays, and Mega-Thin chips from Tia Rosa are ok)
Jolly Ranchers
Pizza crust (the hard edge)
Uncooked carrots (unless cut)
Pretzels

Minimize Sugary Foods like:

Cake
Ice Cream
Cookies
Pie
Candy
Soft Drinks

Only Once a Day:

Sweetened tea
Gatorade
Kool-Aid
Drinks with sugar (Soft Drinks)
**Even diet drinks are bad for the enamel on your teeth.

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.