Getting used to life with dental braces takes a little adjustment, and food is one of the first things you'll need to think about. The good news is that with a few sensible swaps, you can still enjoy plenty of delicious meals — while protecting your braces from damage and keeping your treatment on track. Here's your complete guide.
When your braces are first fitted — and for a day or two after each tightening appointment — your teeth will feel tender and sensitive. This is completely normal and improves quickly. During this time, stick to soft foods that require minimal chewing. Think soups, yoghurt, mashed potato, scrambled eggs, smoothies, and soft pasta. Cool or room-temperature foods can also feel soothing.
According to Orthodontics Australia, the best foods for braces require minimal chewing and are low in sugar. Great everyday options include soft bread, rice, pasta, soup, yoghurt, milk, and soft cheese. You can absolutely still eat your vegetables and meats — just cook them until they're soft and tender, and cut firmer foods like apples and carrots into small, manageable pieces.
Some foods are best left off the menu while you're wearing braces, because they can bend wires, snap archwires, or pop brackets off your teeth. Avoid anything that's:
It's best to skip the gum entirely while you have braces. Gum can stick to your brackets and wires and is surprisingly difficult to remove, sometimes even bending the components out of shape.
If you do accidentally damage a bracket or wire, don't panic — just contact our team and we'll get you booked in for a quick repair. The key is not to ignore it, as broken components can slow your progress.
Eating well goes hand in hand with good cleaning. Because food traps easily around braces, brush carefully after meals and use special orthodontic floss or interdental brushes to reach the tricky spots. For more on caring for your braces, visit ourdental braces.
