At Jarosz & Valente Orthodontics, we’re proud to be able to offer high-quality, affordable braces in the Deerfield and Arlington Heights area. We want to ensure that all of our patients are able to take great care of their braces, and that means steering clear of certain foods that could cause various problems for both your braces and your teeth. Our team has put this list together to help warn you of a few foods to avoid during treatment.
What Should I Not Eat With Braces?
Although these treats can be tempting, they can also pose a serious threat to your brackets and wires. During treatment, we recommend staying away from:
- Hard Candy
- Beef Jerky
- Taffy, caramels, and other sticky candy
- Ice
- Pizza Crust
- Popcorn
- Nuts and seeds
- Gum
- Corn chips, hard taco shells, & hard pretzels
- Hard cookies or crackers
- Corn on the cob
- Apples
Take Special Care With These Foods
Dr. Jarosz and Dr. Valente also warn patients to avoid biting into hard foods with your front teeth. Fruits, raw vegetables, hard breads, and other hard foods should be cut up or broken up before you try to eat them. When possible, cut up these hard foods into smaller pieces:
- Raw vegetables
- Croutons
- French/Italian bread/rolls
- Hard fruit/fruit with pits or large seeds
- Bagels
- Pizza crust
Braces-Friendly Snacks
You might be thinking there are no foods left to enjoy during your braces treatment, but that’s not true! There are still many delicious (and soft) food options we recommend:
- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Sandwiches with soft bread (e.g. peanut butter & jelly)
- Bananas, grapes, oranges, berries, & other fruits without pits/large seeds
- Light crackers or cookies
- Mashed or baked potatoes
- Ravioli, spaghetti, macaroni & cheese, & other noodle dishes
Contact Your Deerfield & Arlington Heights Orthodontist With Any Questions
If you have any questions about what foods to eat or if you’re curious to learn more about life with braces, we encourage you to call us at (847) 632-1030 for our Arlington Heights office or (847) 945-3700 for our Deerfield office. We look forward to making your orthodontic treatment go as smoothly as possible!