For treatment to progress on time, you must take care of your new braces. Eating certain foods can cause breakage and delay removal of the braces. HARD and STICKY FOODS can loosen bands and/or brackets and distort arch wires. Some examples of these foods are:
HARD
- Ice
- Nuts
- Hard pizza crust
- Corn chips/hard tacos
- Hard candy
- Unpopped popcorn kernels
STICKY
- Taffy
- Caramels
- Gummy candy
- Bubble gum
- (Sugarless gum IS O.K.)
Corn-on-the-cob should be cut off the cob. Apples, pears, carrots, celery and hard breads (such as toasted bagels) should be cut into small bites and eaten with the back teeth.
Please limit SUGARY FOODS (pop, candy, cookies, etc …) as they contribute to dental decay and unsightly white spots on the teeth. When you eat foods with a high sugar content brush immediately. If you cannot brush right away then rinse thoroughly with water.
Please use your best judgment. If you are uncertain about a particular food please ask us.
