Orthodontic treatment corrects a patient’s malpositioned teeth or jaws. These treatments can often last from 6 months up to 3 years since the proper alignment process takes time even with the most advanced tools. Therefore, patients have to adjust their lifestyles to achieve the most out of their treatment experience. Any orthodontist near you would advise that there is certain food one should avoid with braces in NE Calgary.
If you are used to eating a colourful plate full of diverse foods before you began wearing braces, it can seem somewhat difficult to maintain a nutritional and wholesome diet while undergoing orthodontic treatment. However, all it takes is some creativity and planning to make that happen. This article takes you through some simple and effective ways you can eat a tasty and healthy diet while still consuming only orthodontic-friendly food.
What to avoid
First of all, it is important to know that wearing braces does not mean you have to eat only soft and pureed food until they are removed. The rule of thumb is not to eat anything that would require any extra effort to remove the lodged food particles in the crevices of the teeth afterwards. Due to the brackets and wires that are important components of braces, having even the smallest amounts of a certain food stuck in them can be quite difficult to remove. These leftover food particles make breeding grounds for bacteria, which can eventually lead to cavities and decayed teeth…which is the last thing you want!
Your orthodontist in NE Calgary would advise you that making a conscious effort to select an orthodontic-friendly diet would increase the efficacy and success level of your treatment. The following are some examples of types of food to avoid in your diet.
- Chewy food (bagels, crusty bread, and pizza)
- Sticky food and snacks (sweets and candy)
- Crunchy food (pretzels, popcorn, chips, and fries)
- Hard/raw fruit and vegetables
- Hard food made of whole grains
- Bones/meat from the bones
- Hard to bite nuts and seeds
Apart from the hard food that can directly damage your braces, it is fine to give in to a rare craving of your favorite sticky candy, but remember to take the extra amount of time and effort needed when you clean your mouth and braces after indulging.
What to eat
Most food that is gentle on your teeth and does not leave a sticky residue, is fine when you wear braces. Therefore, it is important that you make your diet as nutritious and as healthy as possible since consuming a diet that isn’t balanced can negatively affect other parts of your body—not just your oral health. The following are some of the food and snack items that you can enjoy during orthodontic treatment, without an issue:
- Dairy products
- Soft bread
- Seafood
- Tender meats
- Pasta
- Soft rice
- Fruits
With all that said, it is also notable that once you complete the braces treatment near you, it is acceptable to treat yourself to some chewy sweets and candy such as ice cream, milkshakes, and soft cookies once in a while, but your overall sugar consumption should be minimized. When you eat fruit, try to avoid unripe and hard fruits that require excess biting and chewing into such as apples and unripe pears. It is also best to avoid highly seedy fruit that tends to get stuck in the crevices of your teeth and braces. Also, always cook your vegetables and starchy foods until they are soft and tender before consuming them.