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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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Vielje G.
Love the service, staffs are very friendly and approachable and always on point with their work.
Kari C.
This is our second child receiving braces at Craig & Streight and we could not be happier. The staff is kind, efficient, and happy to answer all of our questions.
Michael T.
Everyone at the Mustang location is amazing... They are always polite and know exactly what they are supposed to do... Very professional... I have and will continue to refer people to use Craig and Streight Orthodontics...
Response from the owner:Hi Michael. Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that our Mustang team has made such a positive impression on you. Your referrals mean a lot to us, and we’re dedicated to maintaining the high standards of professionalism and care that you’ve experienced. We appreciate your support!
Lacey C.
Friendly, explained everything well, felt very comfortable there. Had great games for the kids while waiting.
Response from the owner:Hi Lacey. Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted to hear that you felt comfortable and that our team took the time to explain everything. It's great to know the kids enjoyed the games while waiting. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to seeing you again!
Sherree M.
We always have a good experience at Craig & Streight. The staff is always friendly and helpful. They make my son at ease and he loves to earn "punches" so he can get a prize after so many visits.
Response from the owner:Hi Sherree. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're delighted to hear that our team has made your visits enjoyable and that your son is having fun earning his prizes. We truly appreciate your feedback and look forward to continuing to provide a positive environment for you and your family!
Q E
Goodbye, braces! I have finally completed my treatment! I want to thank all the staff members, especially Francis, who was exceptionally kind and went above and beyond to help me. I have hearing loss in one ear, and she was able to understand me perfectly. She is truly an amazing person.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear about your successful treatment and the positive impact our team, especially Francis, had on your journey. Your feedback inspires us to continue providing exceptional care. Wishing you all the best as you embrace your new smile!
Christina C.
Friendly staff. They answered all of our questions and put my daughter at ease to start her braces journey.
Response from the owner:Hi Christina. Thank you! We are thrilled that you had such a positive experience with our orthodontic practice!
JoAnn T.
Wow!! This place is so friendly! Makayla was so informative and friendly.
Response from the owner:Hi Joann. Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience and that Makayla made a great impression. Our team is dedicated to providing a welcoming environment, and it’s fantastic to know we’re hitting the mark. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Nicole C.
We had such a great initial visit at C&S! My kids can’t wait to go back!!
Response from the owner:Hi Nicole. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that you and your kids had a great first visit. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Melanie M.
Staff is always so kind, informative and they answer all the questions you may have. Both doctors are amazing and do not rush you out. They explain everything and take their time with each patient. They are a 10/10
Response from the owner:Hi Melanie. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re thrilled to hear that our staff and doctors made such a positive impact during your visit. We look forward to seeing you again!
Teri J.
Great place! Everyone is friendly. Great experience for all 3 of my kids. They did awesome with my autistic son.
Response from the owner:Hi Teri. We're thrilled to hear that you and your kids had such a positive experience with our team. Creating a welcoming environment for all families is our priority, and it’s heartening to know that your son felt supported. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to seeing you all again!
Jaidyn S.
Had a great experience! They were quick and helped me decide the best option for me!
Response from the owner:Hi Jaidyn. Thank you for sharing your positive experience! We're delighted to hear that our team was able to assist you efficiently and help you find the best option. :)
Jessie W.
Easy to work with and very flexible with scheduling! Orthodontists and staff are very kind and thorough as well!
Response from the owner:Hey Jessie. Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that our team has made your experience smooth and accommodating. Your kind words about our staff and their thoroughness mean a lot to us. We look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
Amanda H.
We had the best experience. They were all so kind and patient with my girl!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words about us and our staff!
Blair B
I'm a fairly new patient but the office staff provides a very warming, thoughtful environment and I love the app and feedback I receive with my Invisalign process. I've been quite impressed with the clinic and Dr thus far and can't wait to receive my final results... a beautiful smile!!!<3
Response from the owner:We appreciate you taking the time to leave us feedback on your experience. We work very hard every day to exceed our patients’ expectations!

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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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12100 S Western Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73170

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