
Foods to Avoid
While wearing braces, it’s important to avoid hard, sticky, and sugary foods, as they can damage your wires and brackets or contribute to tooth decay. Habits like nail-biting, pen chewing, or chewing on other objects can also break your braces and should be stopped. Regularly inspect your braces for loose or bent wires and brackets. Contact us promptly if you notice any issues so we can schedule a repair and keep your treatment on track.
Avoid Sticky Foods
Chewy candies like caramels, taffy, and tootsie rolls
Gum (sugar-free or regular)
Licorice
Sugar Daddies
Starburst
Gummy bears or gummy worms
Fruit chews

Avoid Hard Foods
Ice
Nuts of any kind
Hard taco shells
Crusty bread, baguettes, bagels
Corn on the cob
Whole apples or carrotsBagels
Chips and pretzels
Hard candies like Jolly Ranchers
Raw vegetables like uncooked carrots or celery
Pizza crust
Granola or hard cereal

Limit Sugary Foods
Cake and cupcakes
Ice cream and frozen desserts
Cookies and brownies
Pie and pastries
Candy and chocolate bars

Only Once a Day
Soda and soft drinks
Sweetened tea
Sports drinks like Gatorade
Flavored drink mixes such as Kool-Aid
Drinks with sugar

