Foods to avoid with Braces

Eating with Braces

One of the most common questions patients ask is, “What can I eat with braces?” The good news is that you can still enjoy many of your favorite foods during treatment. However, certain foods should be avoided to help protect your braces and keep treatment progressing smoothly. Braces include brackets, wires, and bands that can be damaged by hard, sticky, or chewy foods. Broken braces can lead to discomfort, extra appointments, and delays in treatment. Making smart food choices helps keep your smile on track and your braces in great shape.

Sticky & Chewy Foods

Sticky foods can pull brackets loose and get caught around wires and appliances.

Avoid foods such as:

  • Gum

  • Caramel

  • Taffy

  • Starbursts

  • Tootsie Rolls

  • Licorice

  • Gummy Candies

  • Skittles

Hard & Crunchy Foods

Hard foods can bend wires, break brackets, or damage appliances.

Avoid foods such as:

  • Ice

  • Nuts

  • Popcorn

  • Hard pretzels

  • Hard taco shells

  • Hard crackers

  • Hard potato chips

  • Hard pizza crusts

  • Beef jerky

  • Jolly Ranchers

  • Lollipops

Helpful Eating Tips

Small changes can make a big difference in protecting your braces.

We recommend:

  • Cutting apples, carrots, and other hard foods into small pieces

  • Removing corn from the cob before eating

  • Avoiding chewing on ice, pens, pencils, or fingernails

  • Chewing carefully and taking smaller bites

These habits help prevent broken brackets and unnecessary emergency visits.

Sugary Foods & Drinks

Sugary foods and drinks increase the risk of plaque buildup, cavities, and white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment.

Try to limit:

  • Soda

  • Sugary drinks

  • Energy drinks

  • Candy

  • Cookies

  • Cake

  • Pie

  • Ice cream

Foods You CAN Enjoy

There are still plenty of delicious foods you can safely enjoy while wearing braces!

Great braces-friendly options include:

  • Pasta

  • Mashed potatoes

  • Soft breads

  • Pizza (without hard crusts)

  • Soft fruits

  • Steamed vegetables

  • Soups

  • Casseroles

  • Boneless meats

  • Yogurt

  • Eggs

  • Soft cheeses

  • Cheeto Puffs

  • Pirate’s Booty

Final Tip

When in doubt, choose softer foods and avoid anything extremely hard, sticky, or chewy. Taking care of your braces helps keep your treatment on schedule and your smile healthy throughout your orthodontic journey.