Wearing braces is a significant step toward achieving straight, beautiful teeth and a confident smile. Throughout this orthodontic journey, maintaining a healthy diet is essential for optimal treatment results. In this article, we will explore common soft foods suitable for braces wearers and provide helpful tips on what to eat to avoid discomfort or damage.
What are soft foods for braces?
In the initial days after getting braces, soft foods are invaluable for reducing pain and discomfort. Moreover, they are easy to digest, provide essential nutrients, and actively support the alignment process of your teeth.
So, what to eat with braces the first week?
Porridge and soup
Options like chicken porridge, oatmeal, corn soup, and pumpkin soup are ideal for those who have just gotten braces. These soft, blended dishes are not only nutritious and delicious but also easy to digest, helping to relieve soreness and sensitivity.
Eggs
Dentists recommend eggs as they are rich in protein and can promote faster healing of gums after irritation from braces. You can enjoy eggs in various forms, such as fried, boiled, in omelets, or as egg soup.
Yogurt and pudding
Both yogurt and pudding contain beneficial probiotics that support digestion. These soft foods are perfect for braces wearers. One small note: choose low-sugar yogurt to prevent the risk of cavities!
Smoothies and juices
Smoothies and juices made from fruits like bananas, avocados, and mangoes are rich in vitamins, easy to digest, and great choices for those with braces. If you are wondering what you can drink with braces, these are excellent options.
Mashed potatoes and pumpkin
Mashed potatoes or pumpkin, especially when combined with butter, are rich in vitamin A and fiber, promoting good digestion. Combine them with soft rice during the first week or two after getting braces.
Salmon and minced meat
Salmon, high in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, is easy to digest. Minced meat is another excellent source of protein that is also easy to chew and swallow, making them suitable additions for a braces-friendly menu.
Soft noodles and pasta
To vary your diet, consider soft noodles, pasta, vermicelli, or pho. These dishes are gentle on your braces and make for a good breakfast option post-treatment.
Steamed vegetables
Steamed vegetables like carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and sweet potatoes are rich in fiber and vitamins. They retain their softness while providing essential nutrients, making them easier to consume with braces.
Soft fruits
Soft fruits such as ripe mangoes and bananas are suitable for those with braces. However, it’s important to eat sweet fruits in moderation to avoid sugar buildup that can lead to cavities.
Legume dishes
Beans are a great source of plant-based protein and are nutritious, soft, and easy to chew. Tofu, lentils, and red beans can be great additions to your diet.
In summary, soft foods for braces are diverse, easy to digest, and provide the necessary nutrients for your body. By varying your diet, you can maintain your appetite while supporting the best possible orthodontic outcomes!
>>> Read more: How much do braces cost in Vietnam?
What can you not eat with braces?
Besides soft foods for braces wearers, there are certain foods that should be avoided to protect your brackets and wires:
- Candies that are hard or chewy, such as mints, chewing gum, and toffees, can loosen brackets if eaten frequently. Sticky candies cling to teeth, making them difficult to clean, which can create conditions conducive to bacteria growth and lead to cavities.
- Hard bread and biscuits: Toasted bread and hard biscuits can easily loosen brackets. Opt for softer alternatives like sponge cake or flan cake to avoid applying pressure on your orthodontic appliances.
- Hard nuts: Nuts like peanuts, almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds can get stuck in wires and brackets, affecting your orthodontic treatment’s effectiveness.
- Grilled or tough Meat: Tough meats, such as grilled beef, smoked meat, or dried buffalo meat, can cause tooth pain and loosen brackets. It’s best to limit or completely avoid these foods.
- Raw vegetables: Raw vegetables like radishes and carrots are too hard to eat raw. Instead, steam or boil them until soft to prevent loosening brackets.
- Popcorn: While delicious, popcorn should be avoided because the kernel shells can easily get trapped in brackets.
- Chewy food: Extremely chewy foods, such as taffy or sticky rice cakes, are difficult to clean, increase the risk of cavities, and can easily stick to brackets. You should minimize consuming these foods after getting braces!
- Spicy and sour Foods: Foods with strong spicy or sour flavors (e.g., tamarind candy or kimchi) can irritate sensitive gums post-braces, so it’s best to limit them.
- Sugary soft drinks: Carbonated drinks with high sugar content not only cause tooth decay but also contain acids that erode enamel. These beverages should be avoided after getting braces.
- Ice and cold desserts: Frozen or hard foods can loosen brackets and cause severe tooth sensitivity, so avoid these after receiving braces.
By strictly following your dentist’s dietary recommendations on what to eat and what not to eat after braces, you can shorten treatment time and achieve the best results.
10 essential tips for eating with braces
Here are ten useful eating tips to keep in mind after getting braces:
- Eat slowly and chew thoroughly: After getting braces, the brackets and wires can reduce your chewing force. It’s important to eat slowly and chew thoroughly to avoid applying too much pressure that could dislodge the brackets.
- Cut food into small pieces: Cutting food into smaller pieces makes it easier to eat. Shredded chicken, sliced beef, and chopped vegetables will require less chewing force, help prevent food from getting stuck in the wires, and make oral hygiene easier.
- Choose soft, Easy-to-swallow foods: In the first 1-2 weeks after getting braces, focus on consuming soft, blended foods like porridge, soup, or broth. These foods reduce pressure on your teeth and help them align more quickly.
- Avoid temperature-Sensitive foods: Hot foods, ice, and frozen items can make your teeth sensitive or painful. Instead, opt for foods that are moderately warm and drink cool, not icy, beverages.
- Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated is important for cleaning your mouth and significantly reduces the risk of cavities.
- Supplement with Vitamin D and Calcium: To strengthen your teeth during orthodontic treatment, include foods rich in vitamin D and calcium, such as salmon, mackerel, eggs, and milk in your diet.
- Chew on both sides of the jaw: Chewing evenly on both sides helps distribute pressure and ensures balanced orthodontic results.
- Maintain proper oral hygiene: Food can easily get trapped in the brackets and wires of your braces. Be sure to brush carefully after meals and use dental floss and interdental brushes for thorough cleaning.
- Use a straw when drinking: When consuming juice, smoothies, coffee, or tea, using a straw minimizes contact between the liquids and your teeth, reducing the risk of staining or discoloration.
- Limit using your front teeth to bite: Avoid biting food directly with your front teeth, as this can create excessive pressure on the orthodontic appliances and may cause the brackets to loosen.
By selecting soft foods suitable for braces wearers, avoiding harmful items, and following these 10 essential tips for eating with braces, you can make your orthodontic journey smoother and more effective. We hope this information helps you maintain a balanced, braces-friendly diet, leading to straight, healthy, and beautiful teeth in no time!
