Diet Restrictions For Braces And Appliances

Foods And Drinks To Avoid During Orthodontic Treatment

Congratulations on starting your smile journey or on taking the first step toward one! At Hentscher-Johnson Orthodontics, we’re so excited to guide you through your smile transformation and cheer you on every step of the way.

Part of keeping your treatment successful and efficient is knowing which foods and drinks to avoid with braces and orthodontic appliances. Don’t worry—it’s nothing extreme. Most of the time, it comes down to making smart swaps and being mindful of the foods and drinks to avoid with braces and orthodontic appliances.

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These little changes go a long way. Not only do they help protect your appliances, but they also prevent delays in your treatment and keep your smile journey moving smoothly. Patients often tell us the short-term adjustments are more than worth it when they see their confident new smile take shape.

Dr. Jodi and Dr. Little want to ensure you have all the tools you need for success. With their expertise, they developed this guide on foods and drinks to avoid with braces and orthodontic appliances.

Why It Matters

Braces are designed to withstand everyday use, but the small brackets and wires can still be delicate. If a component breaks, it may delay your progress and extend your treatment time.

Braces and orthodontic appliances have lots of small parts that make tiny spaces where food particles can easily hide, making them more challenging to clean. This increases the risk of cavities, staining or other oral health issues that can set back your smile journey. It’s important to know what smart swaps you can make and what to avoid to protect both your treatment and your oral health.

What Foods And Drinks To Avoid With Braces And Orthodontic Appliances

In general, Dr. Jodi and Dr. Little recommend avoiding any foods that are hard, crunchy, chewy or dense and any drinks that are dark in color or sugary. Here are some examples of foods and drinks to avoid with braces and orthodontic appliances, as well as some Hentscher-Johnson Orthodontics approved swaps!

Foods To Avoid With Braces And Orthodontic Appliances

Hard And Sticky Candies

Avoid: Hard candies, caramels, taffy and gummies
Swap: Soft chocolates (no caramel or nuts!), thinly coated chocolate or yogurt covered berries and pudding

Popcorn, Snack Chips And Pretzels

Avoid: Crunchy and hard snacks
Swap: Puffed corn snacks, like Pirate’s Booty™ or smaller, bite-sized snacks like Goldfish™

Nuts

Avoid: Whole nuts
Swap: Creamy nut butter with soft crackers, like Ritz™

Crunchy Veggies Such As Raw Carrots And Celery

Avoid: Raw carrots, celery or any other hard veggies
Swap: Cooked or steamed soft veggies

Crunchy Fruit

Avoid: Raw fruits such as whole apples
Swap: Small, thin sliced or peeled fruits. Applesauce and baked apples are also a great swap!

Pizza Crust

Avoid: Thick, hard or crunchy crusts
Swap: Only eat pizza with a soft crust

Bagels Or Hard Rolls

Avoid: Dense, chewy breads
Swap: English muffins, soft breads and sliced bread

Chewy Cuts Of Meat

Avoid: Tough cuts like steak, jerky or roast
Swap: Tender cuts, ground meat, shredded chicken or fish. Cutting meat into small, bite-sized pieces also helps

Drinks To Avoid With Braces And Orthodontic Appliances

Soda & Carbonated Drinks

Avoid: Regular soda, diet soda and sparkling drinks with sugar
Swap: Water, unsweetened sparkling water and milk

Sports & Energy Drinks

Avoid: Gatorade, Powerade and energy drinks
Swap: Water, milk, or sugar-free hydration/electrolyte dissolvable tablets and drinks

Fruit Juices (High-Acid)

Avoid: Orange juice, lemonade, grapefruit juice and other citrus-heavy juices
Swap: Diluted juice with water and smoothies made with naturally sweet fruits

Sweetened Coffee & Tea

Avoid: Sweetened tea and sweet coffee drinks
Swap: Unsweetened tea, coffee or milk

Alcoholic Drinks (if applicable)

Avoid: Sugary cocktails and hard liquors mixed with soda
Swap: White wine, sugar-free seltzers or other low-sugar alcoholic beverages

What You Can Eat And Drink

As you can see, while there are a handful of foods and drinks to avoid with braces and orthodontic appliances, there’s no shortage of healthy and delicious swaps for the foods and beverages you love!

Below is a list of foods and drinks that are always safe for your braces and orthodontic appliances. That way, you can keep your smile journey on track while still enjoying all the great foods and drinks life has to offer.

Adult orthodontic patient smiling in modern office near columbia and waterloo, il showing confident post-treatment results

Breakfast And Grains: Oatmeal, scrambled eggs, soft bread and pasta
Proteins And Seafood: Seafood, eggs, soft meats and cheeses
Fruits: Bananas and berries

Veggies: Mashed potatoes and soft, cooked vegetables
Treats And Snacks: Yogurt, chocolate and ice cream
Other: Pizza with soft crust and soup

Tips For Eating With Braces

When you first get any orthodontic appliance, it’s likely your teeth will feel sore for the first few days. While you’re learning which foods and drinks to avoid with braces and orthodontic appliances and how to eat with them, a good rule of thumb is to cut your soft food into small bites. Chew carefully and with intention, being mindful of where your wires and brackets are located in your mouth.

After eating, swish and rinse your mouth with water to help dislodge any food that may have gotten stuck in the nooks and crannies of your appliances. Brush and floss after every meal whenever possible.

To keep your smile journey on track, be sure to follow any instructions Dr. Jodi and Dr. Little give you regarding your braces or orthodontic appliances. If you have questions or need clarification about which foods and drinks to avoid with braces and orthodontic appliances, call the office—we’re here to support you and are happy to help!

What To Do If You Have Problems With Your Braces Or Orthodontic Appliances

To ensure your smile transformation progresses without interruption, keep in mind the list of foods and drinks to avoid with braces and orthodontic appliances.

However, at Hentscher-Johnson Orthodontics, we understand that mistakes and accidents happen! If you are experiencing any issues with your orthodontic appliances, please visit our Orthodontics Emergencies page for guidance on what you can do and how to reach us for support.

Understanding Which Foods And Drinks To Avoid With Braces And Orthodontic Appliances

With the right care and a few simple adjustments to your eating and drinking habits, you can enjoy your favorite foods while keeping your braces and orthodontic appliances safe and your smile journey on track. By remembering the foods and drinks to avoid with braces and orthodontic appliances, you’ll set yourself up for success.

The Hentscher-Johnson Orthodontics team is here to support you every step of the way. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to give our office a call! We’re happy to help.

Your Smile Journey Starts Here

Hentscher-Johnson Orthodontics makes treatment fun, comfortable and patient-focused in both of our welcoming offices. With advanced tools like in-house 3D-printed aligners and precise CBCT scans, we deliver efficient, high-quality results. We proudly give back through school programs, community events and local sponsorships, and we make confident smiles affordable with flexible, no-interest financing. Ready to get started? Request your appointment today and experience the HJO difference!