Braces help straighten teeth and create a healthy smile, but they also require extra care—especially when it comes to food choices. Certain foods stick to braces, break wires and brackets, or make cleaning more difficult, which can lead to oral health problems. Knowing what foods you can’t eat with braces can help prevent unnecessary repairs and keep your orthodontic treatment on track.
Sticky and Chewy Foods: A Nightmare for Braces
Sticky foods cling to brackets and wires, making them difficult to clean and increasing the risk of cavities. They can also pull on braces and loosen wires or break brackets, leading to unplanned orthodontic visits.
Examples of Sticky and Chewy Foods to Avoid:
- Caramel and chewy candies
- Taffy and gummy candies
- Fruit snacks and chewy granola bars
- Tootsie Rolls and Starbursts
- Chewing gum (even sugar-free varieties)
Instead, opt for soft, melt-in-your-mouth treats like chocolate (without nuts) or pudding to satisfy a sweet tooth without harming your braces.
Hard and Crunchy Foods: Risk of Broken Brackets
Hard foods put excessive pressure on braces, which can cause brackets to break or wires to bend. A damaged bracket or wire delays progress and requires additional orthodontic visits.
Examples of Hard and Crunchy Foods to Avoid:
- Popcorn (the kernels can get stuck and damage braces)
- Nuts (especially almonds and cashews)
- Hard candies and jawbreakers
- Ice cubes (chewing ice is especially harmful)
- Hard pretzels and chips
- Raw carrots and apples (unless cut into small, bite-sized pieces)
If you love crunchy foods, try softer alternatives like steamed vegetables, sliced apples, or baked chips.
Sugary Foods: A Hidden Danger for Braces
Sugar doesn’t harm braces directly, but it helps bacteria grow, which can cause plaque, cavities, and gum issues. With braces, it’s harder to clean around brackets and wires, making sugary foods even more problematic.
Examples of Sugary Foods to Limit:
- Sugary sodas and sports drinks
- Ice cream with sticky mix-ins
- Frosted cereals
- Sticky pastries and donuts
- Chocolate-covered caramel candies
If you consume sugary treats, be sure to rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth as soon as possible.
Stringy and Fibrous Foods: Tough to Clean Out of Braces
Some foods may not seem harmful at first, but their texture can make them difficult to clean out of braces. Fibrous and stringy foods tend to wrap around brackets and wires, increasing the risk of plaque buildup and bad breath.
Examples of Stringy and Fibrous Foods to Avoid:
- Celery and asparagus
- Shredded meats (like pulled pork or stringy chicken)
- Spinach and leafy greens (they can get caught in brackets)
- Corn on the cob (kernels can stick to braces)
Instead, cut food into smaller pieces or choose softer options, like cooked spinach instead of raw.
The Best Approach: Choose Braces-Friendly Foods
Rather than concentrating on the foods to avoid with braces, explore the many enjoyable options that remain safe to eat. Soft foods like yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoothies, and pasta are great choices that won’t harm your braces.
Braces need extra care, but avoiding certain foods helps prevent damage and keeps your treatment on track. If you’re unsure about a particular food, it’s always best to check with your orthodontist.
By avoiding these problem foods and making smart choices, you’ll protect your braces and keep your smile healthy throughout your treatment.
