Foods to Avoid with Braces — and What You Can Eat

One of the first things patients ask when they find out they are getting braces is: “What can I still eat?” It is a fair question — and the answer is more reassuring than most people expect. The vast majority of foods are perfectly fine. There is a short list of things to avoid, a handful of foods that just need a small adjustment in how you eat them, and then everything else carries on as normal.

We have put together this practical guide based on the questions we hear most often at our Claremont practice. Whether you are grabbing lunch at Claremont Quarter or packing school lunches in Nedlands, these guidelines will help you look after your braces without feeling like you are on a restricted diet.

Foods to avoid

There are three categories of foods that can cause problems with braces: hard, sticky, and crunchy. The reasons are straightforward — these foods can break brackets off your teeth, bend or dislodge wires, or get stuck in places that are difficult to clean.

Hard foods

Hard foods are the most common cause of broken brackets. When you bite down on something hard, the force can pop a bracket off the tooth surface or bend the archwire.

Avoid:

• Whole nuts — almonds, macadamias, and cashews eaten whole put direct force on brackets. Chopped nuts sprinkled on yoghurt are a different story (see the modifications section below).
• Hard lollies — biting down on a boiled lolly is one of the fastest ways to break a bracket. Sucking them is not much better, as many people bite down eventually.
• Ice cubes — chewing ice is a surprisingly common habit, and it is one of the most frequent causes of bracket breakages we see.
• Corn on the cob — biting directly into a corn cob puts sideways pressure on front brackets. The corn itself is fine — it just needs to come off the cob first.
• Whole raw carrots — biting into a full carrot stick can dislodge brackets on the front teeth. Cut them into thin sticks or coins, or cook them.
• Crusty bread rolls — a soft bread roll is fine, but very hard, crusty rolls and baguettes require enough force to bite through that brackets can come unstuck.

Sticky foods

Sticky foods are problematic because they adhere to brackets and wires, pulling them out of position. They are also extremely difficult to clean off orthodontic appliances, which increases the risk of plaque build-up around brackets.

Avoid:

• Toffee and caramel — these wrap around brackets and can pull them straight off the tooth.
• Chewing gum — both sugar-free and regular gum sticks to wires and brackets. It can also pull archwires out of the tubes on back teeth.
• Fruit roll-ups and similar chewy confectionery — the same sticking and pulling problem as toffee.
• Sticky dried fruit — dried apricots, dates, and similar dried fruits that are very chewy and sticky can cling to brackets. If you enjoy dried fruit, look for softer varieties and eat them in small pieces.

Crunchy foods

Some crunchy foods shatter into hard, sharp fragments that wedge between brackets, get under wires, and are difficult to remove.

Avoid:

• Popcorn — the unpopped kernels at the bottom of the bag are a bracket-breaking hazard, and the husks wedge under wires and along the gumline. This is one of the foods we are most firm about.
• Hard pretzels — the thick, crunchy variety can crack brackets on impact. Soft pretzels are fine.
• Hard taco shells — they shatter when you bite them, sending hard fragments into brackets and wires. Soft tortillas are a simple swap.

Foods to modify, not eliminate

This is the section that makes most patients feel better. Several foods that appear on “avoid” lists elsewhere are actually fine — they just need a small change in how you eat them.

• Apples — do not bite directly into a whole apple. Slice it into wedges and eat those instead. Same nutrition, same taste, no risk.
• Corn — cut it off the cob with a knife. You still get to eat corn at a barbecue; you just eat it from a plate rather than gnawing the cob.
• Meat on the bone — ribs, chicken drumsticks, lamb cutlets. Cut or pull the meat off the bone rather than biting it directly.
• Crusty bread — tear pieces off rather than biting through a whole roll. Softer bread varieties are easier again.
• Pizza — cut it into smaller pieces if the base is particularly hard or crusty. Most pizza is fine to eat normally.
• Raw vegetables — cut carrots, celery, and capsicum into thin sticks or small pieces rather than biting into large chunks.
• Nuts — chopped or slivered nuts on top of a salad or mixed into yoghurt are generally fine. It is biting down on whole nuts that causes problems.

The message here is simple: modify how you eat, not what you eat. A few small habits — cutting, slicing, using a knife and fork — let you keep enjoying the same foods throughout treatment.

Foods that are perfectly fine

Here is the reassuring part. The list of foods you can eat comfortably with braces is far longer than the list of things to avoid.

• Soft fruits — bananas, berries, kiwi fruit, grapes, melon, mango, stone fruit (cut off the stone)
• Cooked vegetables — steamed, roasted, or stir-fried vegetables are all fine
• Pasta and rice — any type, any sauce
• Bread — sandwich bread, wraps, soft rolls, toast
• Dairy — yoghurt, cheese, milk
• Eggs — scrambled, poached, omelettes, frittata
• Fish and seafood — all types
• Chicken and mince — any preparation that does not involve biting off the bone
• Smoothies and milkshakes — a great option, especially in the first week
• Ice cream — plain ice cream and gelato are fine (avoid varieties loaded with hard nuts, toffee pieces, or hard chocolate chunks)
• Chocolate — plain milk or dark chocolate that breaks easily is fine. Avoid hard chocolate bars that require significant force to bite through.
• Soup — all soups, an especially good option when teeth are tender

This is not a restrictive diet. It is closer to a normal diet with a few sensible adjustments. For more information about how braces work and what to expect during treatment, visit our braces treatment page.

The first week after getting braces

The first few days after braces are placed are the most sensitive. Your teeth are adjusting to the pressure of the archwire, and most patients experience some tenderness when chewing. This is completely normal and settles within a few days for most people.

Stock your kitchen with soft options before your appointment:

• Yoghurt and smoothies
• Scrambled eggs
• Pasta (softer shapes like penne or macaroni work well)
• Mashed potato
• Soup — any variety
• Soft bread and sandwich fillings
• Bananas and other soft fruit
• Rice dishes

You do not need to live on liquids. Most patients are eating fairly normally within five to seven days. Start with the softest options and gradually reintroduce firmer foods as the tenderness eases. You will know what feels comfortable — just listen to your teeth.

After adjustment appointments

Each time you come in for an adjustment — typically every six to eight weeks — the orthodontist tightens or changes the archwire. This puts fresh pressure on your teeth to continue moving them, and you may notice tenderness similar to (though usually milder than) what you felt when your braces were first placed.

For the two to three days after an adjustment, stick to the softer end of your diet. Soup, pasta, eggs, and yoghurt are good options during this window. The tenderness settles quickly, and you can return to your normal eating habits — minus the avoid list — within a few days.

Over-the-counter pain relief such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can help if the tenderness is uncomfortable. If you find it particularly sore after a visit, let us know at your next appointment — we can adjust the force levels to make it more manageable.

If something breaks

Even with the best intentions, brackets occasionally come loose. It happens — sometimes a food is harder than expected, or an accidental bite on a fork does the damage. A broken bracket is not usually an emergency, but it does need attention.

Here is what to do:

1. Call our practice on (08) 6288 7188 to book a repair appointment. We will fit you in as soon as we can, ideally within a few days.
2. Use orthodontic wax in the meantime. If the broken bracket or a loose wire is rubbing against your cheek or gum, roll a small piece of wax over the sharp area to protect the soft tissue. We provide wax at your appointments, but it is also available at most pharmacies.
3. Do not try to fix it yourself. Avoid cutting wires or pulling at loose brackets — you may cause more damage or injure yourself.

A single broken bracket will not derail your treatment, but leaving it unrepaired for weeks can slow your progress. The sooner we repair it, the sooner your teeth get back on track. If you are unsure whether something needs attention, you are always welcome to call — we would rather hear from you than have you worry. For more detail on what constitutes an orthodontic emergency and what can wait, see our guide to emergency orthodontic care.

Our practice is located at 7/355 Stirling Highway, Claremont WA 6010. If you have questions about what you can eat with braces — or anything else about orthodontic treatment — call us on (08) 6288 7188 or get in touch online.

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