Oral Hygiene

Eating With Braces and Hygiene

It is important for you to know how to properly take care of your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment. Dr. Azar and his staff will go over important recommendations regarding caring for your mouth during treatment and which foods to be careful about when eating. It is very important to continue to visit your family dentist once every 6 months for teeth cleanings and routine dental checkups.

Food you CAN eat with braces:

  • Dairy – soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
  • Breads – soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins w/o nuts
  • Grains – pasta, soft cooked rice
  • Meats/poultry – soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
  • Seafood – tuna, salmon, crab cakes
  • Vegetables – mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
  • Fruits – applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
  • Treats – ice cream w/o nuts, milkshakes, Jello, soft cake

Foods to avoid with braces:

  • Chewy foods – bagels, licorice
  • Crunchy foods – popcorn, chips, ice
  • Sticky foods – caramel candies, chewing gum
  • Hard foods – nuts, hard candies
  • Foods that require biting into – corn on the cob, apples, carrots