Short answer
With braces you can eat most soft foods: pasta, rice, eggs, yogurt, soft bread, tender cooked meat and fish, bananas, and cooked vegetables. Avoid hard, crunchy, sticky and chewy foods like nuts, popcorn, hard candy, caramel and jerky, because they can break brackets or bend wires. In the first few days after braces go on or get tightened, stick to the softest foods.
Please note: Richmond Dental Care does not place braces. If you or your child needs braces, we will refer you to an orthodontist. We are happy to keep seeing you for cleanings, checkups and fluoride while you are in treatment, and for whitening once the braces come off. If you are an adult considering clear aligners instead, see what Invisalign costs in Richmond.
What foods are safe to eat with braces?
Think soft, moist and easy to cut. Most everyday meals still work with a few changes.
| Food group | Braces-friendly choices | Skip or change |
|---|---|---|
| Grains | Soft bread, tortillas, pasta, rice, oatmeal, pancakes | Hard rolls, bagels, pizza crust, granola, crunchy cereal |
| Dairy | Yogurt, milk, soft cheese, cottage cheese, pudding | Hard cheese in big chunks (cut it small) |
| Protein | Eggs, fish, tofu, beans, shredded chicken, meatballs, tender ground beef | Jerky, tough steak, ribs and wings eaten off the bone |
| Fruit | Bananas, berries, melon, applesauce, ripe peaches | Whole apples and pears (slice them thin instead) |
| Vegetables | Steamed or roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, avocado | Raw carrots and celery, corn on the cob (cut it off the cob) |
| Snacks and treats | Smoothies, soft cookies, ice cream without nuts, cake | Popcorn, nuts, chips, hard candy, caramel, taffy, gum |
Which foods should you avoid with braces?
- Hard foods: nuts, hard candy, ice and hard pretzels can pop brackets off or bend wires.
- Crunchy foods: popcorn hulls, chips and taco shells break into sharp pieces that wedge under wires and irritate gums.
- Sticky and chewy foods: caramel, taffy, gummy candy and chewing gum cling to brackets, pull on wires and hold sugar against your teeth.
- Foods you bite into: whole apples, corn on the cob and crusty sandwiches put a lot of force on front brackets. Cut them into small pieces instead.
- Sugary and acidic drinks: soda, sports drinks and sweet tea bathe teeth in sugar and acid, which is harder to clean off around brackets.
Also avoid chewing on pens, pencils or fingernails, which can damage braces just as easily as food.
What should you eat in the first few days?
Teeth often feel sore for a few days after braces go on and after each adjustment. Plan for very soft foods during that time: soup, yogurt, smoothies eaten with a spoon, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, macaroni and cheese and oatmeal. Cold foods can feel soothing. Once the soreness fades, you can return to the wider list above.
How do you eat with braces without damaging them?
- Cut food into small, bite-sized pieces.
- Chew with your back teeth instead of biting with your front teeth.
- Eat slowly and chew gently.
- Take meat off the bone before eating it.
- Rinse with water after eating when you can’t brush right away.
How do you keep teeth clean with braces?
Brackets and wires create lots of small places for plaque to hide. If plaque sits around a bracket for months, it can leave white chalky spots or cavities on the enamel that show up once the braces come off. A few habits help:
- Brush after meals, angling the brush above and below the brackets.
- Use fluoride toothpaste every time you brush.
- Clean between teeth daily with a floss threader, orthodontic floss, interdental brushes or a water flosser. Our post on how often to floss explains when extra cleaning helps.
- Keep sweet and sour snacks and drinks to mealtimes instead of sipping all day.
- Keep up with regular dental cleanings during orthodontic treatment, not just orthodontist visits.
For kids and teens with braces, a professional fluoride treatment at cleaning visits gives the enamel extra protection.
What should you do if a bracket or wire breaks?
Call your orthodontist, since they manage the braces themselves. In the meantime, cover a poking wire or loose bracket with orthodontic wax to protect your cheek, and avoid the foods that caused the problem. A broken bracket is usually not an emergency, but a wire cutting into your cheek should be looked at soon.
If you have a toothache, a possible cavity, swollen gums or a chipped tooth while wearing braces, those are things we can help with.
What happens after the braces come off?
Once treatment is finished, a thorough cleaning removes leftover cement and plaque, and it is a good time to check for any spots that need attention. Many people also want to brighten their smile; ask about teeth whitening, in-office or with take-home trays, after your teeth have had a little time to settle. Curious about the removal visit itself? Read how long braces removal takes.
When to call us
Call us if you have a toothache or sensitivity that lingers, swollen or bleeding gums, a chipped tooth, or if you’re due for a cleaning while in braces. For loose brackets or wires, contact your orthodontist. Call (832) 612-2831 — we’re open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, 9am–3pm. You can also book online.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, if you cut it into small pieces and skip the hard outer crust. Thin, soft pizza is easier than thick, chewy crusts.
Most orthodontists advise against it because gum sticks to brackets and wires. Ask your orthodontist whether they make any exceptions.
Yes. Soft ice cream is fine, especially when your teeth are sore. Avoid varieties with nuts, hard candy or chewy mix-ins, and brush or rinse afterward.
It is best to avoid hard, crunchy chips. The sharp pieces can get stuck under wires and the crunch can loosen brackets.
Sources
This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. Every mouth is different — the right treatment for you depends on an exam.