No Orthodontic Emergencies!

Here at Dr. Reed’s office we recommend staying away from certain foods that might cause an orthodontic emergency.

Although sturdy, stable and advanced, braces are orthodontic appliances that you need to treat with care. That means eating foods that are gentle on your brackets and wires. Avoid all foods that are sticky, hard, or chewy. Soft foods are most recommended for those who wear braces because they are simply easier on your mouth hardware. When brackets fall off, it slows down treatment. Not to mention, it causes a headache for parents and patients when having to schedule an extra trip to the office for repair!

Foods to avoid when wearing braces: popcorn, nuts, hard taco shells, sticky and hard candy, gum, ice, corn chips, pretzels , hard cookies or crackers, sticky or hard chocolate. Also, avoid biting into hard foods with your front teeth. Cut or break up hard foods such as: raw vegetables, croutons, French/Italian bread, fruit, hard rolls, thin crust pizza, meat, burgers, sub sandwiches, corn on the cob.

Recommended foods when wearing braces: hulless popcorn, bananas, yogurt, light crackers or cookies, cheese, mashed potatoes, melons, grapes, peanut butter and jelly, ravioli, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, and other noodle dishes.
Braces are a financial and time investment and we want to ensure that proper oral care keeps your orthodontic treatment on track!