Metal & Clear Braces in Champaign and Monticello
At Huls Orthodontics, our mission is to help patients throughout Champaign, Monticello, and the surrounding areas achieve beautiful, healthy smiles through comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Our orthodontist and highly-trained team of orthodontic specialists work closely with our patients to develop convenient, personalized treatment plans, and we're proud to offer a wide range of treatment options to suit our patients' needs. But how you care for your teeth at home is just as important as our in-office treatments, and if you're straightening your teeth with braces, that includes the foods you eat.
Foods That Can Damage Braces
If you're getting orthodontic treatment through metal or clear braces, one of the biggest things you'll need to adjust during treatment is your diet. This is because certain foods – hard, sticky, and sugary foods, in particular – can pose a threat to braces, damaging or breaking brackets archwires, and other appliances. You'll need to use your own common sense when deciding which foods could damage your braces, but to help you in making these choices, we've pulled together a brief list of some common foods that can harm braces.
Hard Foods to Avoid with Braces
Hard, crunchy foods can easily break off brackets. Steer clear of hard or crunchy foods like these:
- Nuts
- Bagels
- Hard pizza crust
- Corn on the cob (ok if cut off the cob)
- Raw apples, carrots, and other hard produce (ok if cut into small pieces)
- Ice
- Chips
- Bread with a hard crust
Sticky Foods to Avoid with Braces
Sticky, gooey foods can get stuck under archwires, potentially loosening or dislodging brackets and wires. Keep a look out for foods like these:
- Gum (including sugar-free)
- Toffee
- Starburst
- Licorice
- Tootsie Rolls
- Sugar Daddies
- Caramels
Sugary Foods to Minimize
Sugary foods may not pose a direct threat to braces, but sugar causes tooth decay, something that teeth are extra vulnerable to during treatment. Try to minimize your intake of anything that's loaded with sugar:
- Ice Cream
- Pie
- Cake
- Cookies
- Candy
- Soda
- Sweet Tea
- Any sugary drinks
Contact Your Monticello Orthodontist
In addition to avoiding foods like these, we also recommend quitting habits like nail-biting or chewing on pencils, as these can also damage braces. Still have questions about dietary choices during treatment? We're happy to help – just reach out to us at our contact page. We can't wait to hear from you, and we look forward to helping you achieve your dream smile!