Living With Braces
EATING HABITS AND ORTHODONTICS
Follow these simple guidelines during your orthodontic treatment to assure the best treatment result in the shortest period of time
AVOID REASONS EXAMPLES
|
Sticky Foods |
Loosens bands, pulls out ligature ties,
May bend archwires |
Carmel, Caramel Corn, Taffy, Licorice, Gummy Bears,
Star Bursts, Sugar Daddies, Chewy Fruit Snacks |
|
Hard Foods |
Loosens bands, bends & breaks archwires Note: carrots and apples may be eaten if sliced |
Ice Cubes, French Bread Crust, Pizza Crust, Peanut Brittle, Hard-shell Tacos, JawBreakers, Carrots,Apples, Corn/Tortilla Chips, Frozen Candy Bars |
|
Husk Foods |
Husks lodge between bands and beneath archwires,
Irritates gum tissue. May shave corn from cob |
Peanuts, Popcorn, Corn on t the Cob,
Chicken on the bone, Ribs |
| Chewing Gum |
Chewing gum (even sugarless) will loosen bands, Can pull out tie wires and bend archwires |
Large pieces of gum, especially Bubble Gum |
|
EAT LESS High-sugar Foods
|
Weakens cement beneath bands, loosen bands, Attacks tooth enamel causing cavities |
Candy, Cookies, Cakes, Pies, excessive ice cream, Soda, Sugar-Coated Cereals, Candy Apples |
SUGGESTED BETWEEN-MEAL SNACKS
Fresh Fruits, Wheat or Rice Chex, Puffed Corn (“Pirate’s Booty”), Ice Milk, Frozen Yogurt, Fruit Smoothies, Saltine Crackers, Sugarless Candy, Vegetables
STANDARD PROCEDURES
Teeth must be brushed and dental flossed thoroughly after eating any meal or snack. Use Fluoride gel nightly
