You’ve probably heard that there are all sorts of things that you shouldn’t be eating while wearing braces. The purpose of that guidance is to avoid you accidentally damaging your braces and teeth, leading to slower progress and potentially higher costs. But what about the things you should be eating? As it turns out, there are a few things that can be highly beneficial to eat when you have braces.
Soft Cheeses
Dairy products are pretty well known for their calcium and phosphorus content, something that is generally considered to be good for your teeth. Some of them are even fortified with vitamin D, further improving how good they are for you. Soft cheeses are an especially good option for people who have braces. Their soft nature means that they shouldn’t put too much pressure on your braces. Additionally, eating cheese can stimulate saliva production. This helps to keep the mouth cleaner, thereby reducing the risk of tooth decay.
Seafood
Seafood is another excellent food to eat when you have braces. Like soft cheeses, they aren’t tough to eat and pose little risk to the braces. Choose boneless seafood, as the bones could be a problem. In addition to being a good source of protein, fish is an excellent source of vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids. Vitamin D helps calcium absorb better, and Omega-3 fatty acids can help counter periodontitis.
Vegetables
Vegetables are known for having an abundance of fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are essential to your health. Of course, when it comes to braces, you’ll need to be a little more cautious about the vegetables you eat and how you consume them. Crunching away on raw carrots all day is bound to damage your brackets at some point. Instead, boil or steam your vegetables so that they are soft, and cut crunchy vegetables into small pieces so that you can use your back teeth to chew them without damaging your braces.
The guidance surrounding food and braces isn’t all about what you can’t do. In fact, there are some things that you are encouraged to consume, in part because they offer benefits for your teeth and are easy on your braces, and in part because they’re just straight up good for you. In general, some of the best things you can do for yourself while you have braces is to eat a nutritious, balanced diet as much as possible, and to drink plenty of water. Ask Dr. Tori and Dr. Carver if you ever have questions about what you should and shouldn’t be eating with braces.
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