If it is hard or sticky, don't eat it!!

Our aim is to achieve treatment goals with as few disturbances due to appliance breakage as possible and minimize the side effects of poor diet choices.  Remember that teeth move their best in a healthy environment and in individuals with excellent overall health.  Be sure that you have a well balanced diet.

Sticky food is to be avoided because of the increased risk of dental decay and appliance breakage.  These types of food stick to braces and remain on your teeth for long periods of time.  If food or drinks high in sugar content are to be consumed, we advise having them with regular meals or at one given time of day.  Consumption of soda pop, sports drinks and any similar sugary or acidic drinks are extremely harmful to teeth.  They cause the decalcification of teeth and leave very unattractive discolored marks that may lead to tooth decay.  Please make sure that careful brushing and rinsing take place immediately afterwards.  Between-meal snacks should be confined to food without refined sugar and should be followed by vigorous rinsing if a toothbrush is not available

The following foods can be particularly harmful to your teeth while wearing braces:

Taffy and Caramels
Soda and Pop, Sports Drinks
Gum
Beef Jerky
Jaw Breakers

Braces can be dislodged and wires bent or broken while eating certain foods.  Hard Foods, such as nuts, hard candy, corn chips and even crisp taco shells can harm your braces and should be avoided.  Chewing ice cubes can also be very destructive to your appliances.  Some foods such as whole apples, raw carrots or celery are healthy snacks, but must be cut into small pieces to avoid damaging you braces.