Foods to avoid with Braces

Protect your braces by making smart food choices.

One of the most common questions we hear is, "What can I eat with braces?" The good news is that you can still enjoy many of your favorite foods! While a few foods should be avoided to protect your brackets and wires, making braces-friendly choices will help keep your treatment on schedule and your smile healthy.

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

Fruits & Vegetables

  • Bananas

  • Strawberries

  • Blueberries

  • Raspberries

  • Watermelon

  • Cantaloupe

  • Steamed carrots

  • Steamed broccoli

  • Steamed cauliflower

  • Green beans

  • Sweet potatoes

  • Cooked squash

Dairy & Protein

  • Yogurt

  • Greek yogurt

  • Cottage cheese

  • Soft cheeses

  • Cream cheese

  • Pudding

  • Smoothies

  • Eggs

  • Turkey

  • Boneless fish

  • Tuna

  • Meatballs

  • Ground beef

  • Shredded chicken

Foods to avoid

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

A few simple habits can go a long way in protecting your braces and preventing unexpected repairs.

We recommend:

Cut apples, carrots, and other hard foods into bite-sized pieces.

Remove corn from the cob before eating.

Avoid chewing on ice, pens, pencils, or fingernails.

Take smaller bites and chew carefully.

These simple habits can help prevent broken brackets, reduce emergency visits, and keep your treatment progressing smoothly.

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:

Soft Meals & Favorites

  • Pasta

  • Soups

  • Casseroles

  • Mashed potatoes

  • Macaroni & cheese

  • French toast

  • Pizza (without hard crust)

  • Soft breads

  • Cheeto Puffs

  • Pirate's Booty

  • Soft tacos

  • Quesadillas

  • Cheeseburgers

Final Tip

When in Doubt...

Choose softer foods and avoid anything that's extremely hard, sticky, or chewy. If you're ever unsure whether a food is braces-friendly, our team is always happy to help.

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