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What Can I Eat With Braces?

Home » Blog » What Can I Eat With Braces?

While the results of orthodontic treatment are life-changing, the treatment itself won’t have too big of an impact on your day-to-day existence, especially with the modern treatments we offer at our practice. That being said, there are some minor adjustments you’ll have to make (they’ll be totally worth it when you see your new smile!). Food is probably the biggest change our Mustang, OKC and Norman braces patients are curious about. In fact, “What can I eat with braces?” is among the questions we hear most frequently at our practice. The good news is, you can still eat most of the foods you love. To give you a clearer picture, the team here at Craig & Streight Orthodontics is sharing what you need to know about eating with braces.

Are There Things You Can’t Eat With Braces?

First, let’s tackle the things you can’t eat with braces. You’ll want to stay away from anything that can damage your brackets and wires. Foods to avoid with braces include:

  • Hard foods: chips, hard taco shells, pizza crust, nuts, popcorn
  • Chewy foods: hard bagels and rolls (tear them into tiny pieces), licorice, jerky
  • Sticky foods: caramel, toffee, taffy, Starburst
  • Foods you bite directly into: corn on the cob (off the cob is fine), whole, raw apples and carrots

Can you eat popcorn with braces? No. While popcorn doesn’t necessarily fall into one of these categories, it’s still a food to avoid because the kernels can be very hard and pieces can get caught in your braces and cause inflammation. Sugary foods and drinks aren’t necessarily banned during treatment but you should limit them. It’s harder to keep your teeth clean when you have braces and these foods can increase your risk of tooth decay.

What Can I Eat With Braces?

When you first get your braces put on and occasionally following adjustments, your teeth can be a little bit sensitive. It’s mild and goes away in a few days. However, it’s a good idea to stick with soft foods and cold foods and drinks until you feel ready to tackle your usual diet. Things that require little if any chewing won’t put pressure on your teeth and anything cold is helpful for having a bit of a numbing effect. Yogurt, mashed potatoes, soup, smoothies, scrambled eggs, milkshakes, ice water, applesauce and oatmeal are all good options.

As for foods to eat with braces the rest of the time, it’s actually less about what to eat and more about how to eat with braces. You can still enjoy most things as long as you break, cut or tear things into tiny, bite-sized pieces. Never bite into food with your front teeth. Instead, chew with your back teeth. Be sure to strip things like corn on the cob and meat on the bone.

Some great options for foods to eat with braces, include:

  • Milk
  • Soft cheeses (cottage cheese, brie, thinly-sliced cheddar, Swiss or American cheese, mozzarella, etc.)
  • Yogurt
  • Pudding
  • Milkshakes
  • Protein shakes
  • Smoothies
  • Frozen treats like ice cream without nuts, gelato, frozen yogurt, sorbet
  • Polenta
  • Couscous
  • Pasta and noodles
  • Macaroni and cheese
  • Quinoa
  • Soft-cooked rice
  • Eggs
  • Oatmeal
  • Cream of wheat
  • Pancakes
  • Egg, chicken or tuna salad
  • Tofu
  • Tempeh
  • Soft-cooked meats
  • Pulled pork and other shredded meats
  • Soft-cooked fish
  • Fish sticks (as long as they’re not too crunchy)
  • Meatloaf
  • Meatballs
  • Thinly-sliced lunch meat
  • Soups and stews with soft-cooked meats or veggies
  • Beans
  • Hummus
  • Steamed, cooked and soft-roasted veggies, including greens, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, etc.
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Avocados and guacamole
  • Ripe fruits, including bananas and sliced up peaches
  • Applesauce
  • Peanut butter
  • Soft bread
  • Soft tortillas (warm them up to soften them even more)
  • Muffins without nuts
  • Soft cakes and cookies
  • Jell-O
  • Cheesecake

What to do About a Broken or Loose Bracket or Wire

If you do eat one of the foods to avoid with braces or accidentally bite into something incorrectly and your braces get damaged, don’t panic. Call our office and let us know what’s going on and we’ll schedule you for a repair appointment if necessary. In the meantime, there are things you can do at home to make yourself comfortable until you can get to our office.

If you have a broken or loose bracket in the back of your mouth and it comes off the wire completely, carefully wrap it in a piece of tissue and remove it from your mouth. If there’s excess wire, try gently pushing it out of the way with a clean cotton swab or the eraser end of a new pencil and covering it with orthodontic relief wax. If that doesn’t work, you can try to extremely carefully clip the extra wire with sterilized nail clippers before covering it with wax. If the bracket is towards the front of your mouth and still on the wire, slide it back in place and, again, cover it with orthodontic relief wax. For a protruding wire, follow the steps above of pushing it out of the way or carefully clipping it and then covering it with wax.

Now that you know all about eating with braces, if you have questions or you’re ready to kick off your smile journey, schedule a free consultation with a Norman, Mustang or OKC orthodontist at Craig & Streight Orthodontics today!

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Whitney M.
They didn’t rush to put braces on my son. They were up front about everything. The staff is always very friendly and easy to contact in case of an emergency.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the positive feedback. We are honored to serve each and every one of our patients!
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It was absolutely wonderful. Dr. Craig went above and beyond to make sure nothing was painful and they turned out wonderful.
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Shelbey T.
I’m a pretty calm and low-maintenance person: I show up when I’m supposed to, I sit quietly, respond kindly, ask questions if I have any, etc. There are some places where it makes people uncomfortable and my experience is awkward, but that isn’t an issue here.

Staff are knowledgeable and kind, and they’re capable of appropriately communicating with a wide range of age groups. It’s a calm place, and I really appreciate that - not only for me but for any kiddos who might feel anxious about braces.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your thoughtful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you found our environment calm and welcoming. It's wonderful to know that our team is effectively connecting with patients of all ages. Your insights motivate us to keep providing a supportive atmosphere for everyone. We look forward to your next visit!
Tina A.
I love the care I have been receiving at Craig and Streight Orthodontics!!! The Dr's are outstanding and the staff is amazing!!! I will recommend all of my friends and family for braces, invisalign, and/or whitening!!!
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Christine K.
I’ve had a great experience here and would highly recommend Craig & Streight to anyone!
Response from the owner:Hey Christine. We’re delighted to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience with us. Thank you for your recommendation; it truly means a lot to our team!
Tyler P.
Dr. Craig is wonderful! My son is now having his smile perfected by her. My teeth are still beautiful to this day, 21 years later, thanks to Dr. Craig! Her staff is wonderful and what an amazing facility. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Hi Tyler! We’re thrilled to hear about your positive experiences with Dr. Craig and our team. It’s wonderful to know that both you and your son are benefiting from our care. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback; it truly means a lot to us!
Dani S.
Dr Craig and her staff are always so kind and caring. They provided a way to communicate with them outside of regular hours in case of urgent matters and are quick to respond. I am also thrilled with the result and have the smile I have always wanted.
Response from the owner:Hi Dani. We’re glad you had such a positive experience during your recent appointment with our orthodontic practice. We are committed to serving our patients and your feedback helps us to continue to do so. Thanks!
Skyler K.
It was my first time here and the staff was extremely kind and informative. I went ahead and made the decision to get Invisalign here as an adult! Makayla was knowledgeable, kind and enjoyable to talk with, I feel confident in my Invisalign process. I recommend this place!
Kailee H.
They were so easy to work with. The staff was so amazing. I would recommend Craig and Streight to everyone.
Response from the owner:Thank you Kailee for your fantastic feedback! We're delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to serving you again!
Fernanda G.
I had a great experience, everyone was very nice, I’m excited to go back!
Response from the owner:Hey Fernanda. We’re glad you had such a positive experience during your recent appointment with our orthodontic practice. We are committed to serving our patients and your feedback helps us to continue to do so. Thanks!
Destiny M.
First experience with braces. The staff put us at ease and answered our questions
Response from the owner:Hi Destiny. Thanks for your positive review! It’s our goal to deliver a great patient experience every day.
Twyla C
Moved to OKC and called around a few places. Decided to go with Craig and Streight and glad I did. Myself and my son have braces. Everyone is super nice and we always have a great experience.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you and your son are having a great experience with us. Our team is dedicated to providing a welcoming environment, and it’s fantastic to know you feel that way. If you ever have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out!

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706 24th Ave NW
Norman, OK 73069

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1476 N Mustang Rd
Mustang, OK 73064

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Oklahoma City, OK 73170

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