When your braces are first placed, your Melbourne orthodontist is going to give you advice about the types of foods you should avoid eating. This advice helps to protect your braces, and also helps avoid staining your teeth and other issues. Unfortunately, some of these foods are ones that fall into the childhood “favorites” category. Research has found that restrictions to eating are one of the main problems that kids have with braces. Rather than putting the focus on what you cannot eat, let’s take a look at some of the top foods that you can eat with braces.

Top Foods When You First Get Braces

The first few days when you have braces are going to be an adjustment period. Your teeth and the insides of your cheeks will be sensitive and you will feel some pressure on your teeth, because the whole experience is so new. This usually passes in a few days, but until it does, eating might be an uncomfortable process. Here are some of the top foods you should eat during this initial period.

• Pastas like mac and cheese or noodles
• Soup
• Yogurt
• Mashed potatoes
• Bananas
• Scrambled eggs
• Oatmeal
• Ground meats

Over the first few days, the teeth will be sensitive, but there’s a reward coming!  You can gradually increase your food options to include non-ground meats and tougher options that used to be more uncomfortable to eat.

Top Foods for Your Braces Diet

Even though there are a few things restricted from your braces diet, there are still many great foods that you can enjoy anytime. The key is always to eat healthy foods that are easy to chew.

Fruits & Vegetables

• Applesauce
• Grapes
• Watermelon
• Bananas
• Steamed vegetables
• Cooked beans
• Mashed potatoes

Bread & Grains

• Cooked rice
• Muffins (with no nuts)
• Oatmeal
• Pastas like macaroni and cheese or spaghetti
• Pancakes or waffles

Dairy Foods

• Cottage cheese
• Ice cream
• Milk
• Pudding
• Yogurt

Meats & Proteins

• Eggs
• Fish
• Lunch meats
• Meatloaf
• Shredded chicken

Soups, jello, casseroles, and things like these are almost always safe to eat with braces. For sandwiches, grilled cheeses and PB&Js are on the list, too.

Food Prep Tips When Cooking for Braces

Soft-cooked foods are basically all safe when it comes to wearing braces. Rice, steamed veggies, boiled or mashed potatoes, and slow-cooked meats can be a big part of your diet, and there’s little to no risk of them breaking your appliances or bending the archwires attached to your braces.

Even crunchy fruits, vegetables, and bread can be enjoyed when you have braces. Be sure to cut them into bite-sized pieces, though. Biting down on a whole carrot could damage your braces, for example. But if you cut it into small pieces and mash it with your back teeth, you can still eat the carrot. Sometimes it’s even a good idea to cut sandwiches into bite-sized pieces. It may take a little bit longer to eat a meal, because you are cutting everything up, but you will get used to it.

What about Sweets and Braces?

Some soft sweets are fine, so long as they are enjoyed in moderation. Soft candy bars like 3 Musketeers or peanut butter cups are fine when wearing braces. Soft cookies or marshmallows are also fine. What you want to avoid are hard candies and sticky things like caramel. Don’t forget to brush and floss after eating something sweet, though.

Some patients are candidates for Invisalign, which is also offered at your Melbourne orthodontist’s office. These clear, plastic aligners fit over the teeth and work similarly to braces. Invisalign is very popular because the aligners can be taken out for meals and brushing your teeth. People like this system because it is virtually invisible, and you do not have to adjust your diet as much during the treatment.Have questions about braces? Contact Us at Melbourne Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.