Foods to avoid with braces generally include anything hard, sticky, chewy, or crunchy that can damage the braces or get stuck in them. Some specific foods to avoid are:
- Nuts
- Popcorn (kernels can get stuck and irritate gums)
- Hard chocolate and hard candies
- Sticky sweets like caramel, taffy, gummies, and chewing gum
- Brittle foods such as hard taco shells, pretzels, and chips
- Hard biscuits, cookies, or crackers
- Hard/crunchy raw vegetables and fruits like apples (unless cut into small pieces)
- Corn on the cob (bite-sized pieces recommended instead)
- Hard rolls, bagels, sourdough crusts, and pizza crusts
- Ice cubes or chewing ice
- Tough or chewy meats (should be cut into small pieces)
- Foods rich in staining spices (e.g., turmeric or mustard in curries) may stain certain braces
Soft and easy-to-chew foods are recommended to avoid damage and maintain hygiene. Cutting harder foods into smaller pieces can also help reduce risks.