Quick answer: With braces, you can eat most soft and bite-sized foods, including pasta, rice, eggs, fish, soft chicken, cooked vegetables, soft fruit, yogurt, cheese, and smoothies. Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods like hard candy, popcorn, nuts, ice, caramel, gum, and tough bagels, because they can break brackets or bend wires. Cut crunchy foods such as apples and carrots into small pieces instead of biting into them.
Key Takeaways
- Soft, bite-sized foods are safe and easy to eat.
- Hard, sticky, and very chewy foods are the main things to avoid.
- Cut raw fruits and vegetables into small pieces and chew with your back teeth.
- Stick to extra-soft foods for the first few days and after adjustments.
- Brush after meals so food does not get trapped around brackets.
What foods can you eat with braces?
| Food group | Braces-friendly choices |
|---|---|
| Grains | Pasta, rice, soft bread, tortillas, pancakes, oatmeal, muffins without nuts |
| Protein | Eggs, fish, soft chicken, meatballs, tender shredded meat, tofu, beans |
| Dairy | Yogurt, cheese, milk, cottage cheese, pudding |
| Fruit | Bananas, berries, applesauce, melon, grapes, apples cut into thin slices |
| Vegetables | Steamed or roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, avocado, carrots cut small |
| Treats | Soft cookies, cake, ice cream without hard mix-ins, smoothies, milkshakes |
What foods should you avoid with braces?
Foods that are hard, sticky, or require biting with your front teeth cause most broken brackets. Here are the ones to skip or change up:
| Avoid | Why | Try instead |
|---|---|---|
| Hard candy, nuts, ice | Can crack brackets and bend wires | Chocolate without nuts, frozen yogurt |
| Caramel, taffy, gum | Sticks to brackets and pulls wires | Soft cookies, pudding |
| Popcorn | Hulls get stuck under wires and gums | Puffed snacks that melt easily |
| Corn on the cob | Biting into the cob can pop off brackets | Corn cut off the cob |
| Whole apples and raw carrots | Biting in with front teeth breaks brackets | Thin slices or small pieces |
| Hard pizza crust, bagels, jerky | Tough and chewy on brackets | Soft crust, tender meats |
What should you eat the first week with braces?
Your teeth may feel tender for the first three to five days, so lean on extra-soft foods: soup, mac and cheese, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, yogurt, smoothies, and pasta. Cold foods like smoothies can feel especially good. You can read more about that adjustment period in Do Braces Hurt?.
Can you eat pizza, chips, or burgers with braces?
- Pizza: Yes. Cut it into small pieces and skip the hardest parts of the crust.
- Chips: Soft or thin chips in small amounts are usually fine. Avoid hard, thick tortilla chips.
- Burgers and sandwiches: Yes. Cut them in smaller pieces so you are not biting straight into them with your front teeth.
- Steak: Choose tender cuts and slice them thin.
Do the same food rules apply to clear aligners?
No. With clear aligners, you take the trays out to eat, so there are no food restrictions. Just brush before putting them back in and drink only water while they are in. With metal braces or ceramic braces, the food rules stay the same for your whole treatment.
How do you keep teeth clean after eating with braces?
- Brush after every meal, angling the brush above and below the brackets.
- Floss once a day with a floss threader or water flosser.
- Rinse with water after meals when you cannot brush right away.
- Carry a travel toothbrush and orthodontic wax in your backpack or bag.
What happens if a bracket breaks?
It happens to almost everyone at some point. If a bracket comes loose or a wire pokes, cover it with orthodontic wax and call the office so we can fix it. Frequent breaks can add time to treatment, which is one reason food choices matter. See How Long Do Braces Take? for more on what keeps treatment on schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat chocolate with braces?
Yes, soft chocolate without nuts or caramel is fine. Brush afterward so sugar does not sit around the brackets.
Can I eat apples with braces?
Yes, as long as you cut them into thin slices and chew with your back teeth instead of biting into a whole apple.
Can you chew gum with braces?
It is best to avoid gum because it sticks to brackets and wires. Some orthodontists allow sugar-free gum, so ask yours first.
Can you eat popcorn with braces?
No. Popcorn hulls get trapped under wires and gums and can be hard to remove. Soft puffed snacks are a better choice.
How long after getting braces can I eat normally?
Most people can eat a normal braces-friendly diet after about a week, once the initial soreness fades.
Have more questions? Dr. Leah Sebastian sees patients of all ages at our Shelbyville orthodontic office and our Frankfort orthodontic office. Schedule a consultation or start with a virtual smile assessment from home.
