What are the best soft foods for braces?
It can be challenging to eat with braces in your mouth. Sticky candy or a tough steak might knock off brackets or wires. So you must choose your food wisely during orthodontics treatment.
In the long term, braces aid in the development of healthier teeth and more attractive smiles. However, they may make it more difficult to maintain a proper oral hygiene regimen in the short term.
Brushing and flossing are more difficult with braces, and you must be mindful of the foods you should avoid.
In this article, we're providing a list of the best soft foods for braces, and we’ll also be covering:
- What can you eat with braces?
- How to eat with braces
- What to eat with braces the first week
- What candy can you eat with braces?
There are some foods you can't eat with braces. But there's good news too! You don't have to eat soup and yogurt for the next two years.
There are a lot of delicious foods on the menu, and we'll also give tips on how you can still eat your favorite dishes with braces. This is only general advice, so if your ortho has specific recommendations based on your treatment, go with their advice first.
Table of contents
Why can you only eat soft foods when wearing braces?
Crunchy foods may cause brace wires to bend, bands to loosen, and brackets to fall off. Or they might get stuck in braces, causing discomfort and perhaps tooth decay. However, even some hard foods can be eaten if they are chewed in the right way. If you straighten teeth with aligners, your food needs will be a little different.
Foods you can eat with braces
1. Pasta
If you're wondering what to eat while wearing braces, think about a delicious pasta dish. There are a few easy advantages to including it in your braces-friendly food list. It is soft food that is easy to consume. A portion of delicious pasta is high in complex carbs, which fill you up and give you a steady supply of energy. Pasta is also inexpensive and easily accessible.
2. Pancakes
Pancakes are a soft, warm, and fluffy delicacy. With a pancake mix from your local supermarket, you can prepare a quick meal that is soft enough for braces and sensitive teeth and gums. Use a cookie cutter to cut the pancakes into interesting shapes for your younger kid who is wearing braces.
3. Oats, oatmeal, and porridge
Oatmeal is a breakfast favorite that has stood the test of time. Oats make great soft food for braces. To make a fantastic quick morning meal, add some fresh berries and cinnamon, or brown sugar and maple syrup to your oatmeal. Oatmeal is also incredibly filling, which means you'll eat less during the day.
4. Protein shakes
Protein shakes aren't just for bodybuilders. When you're on the run, a well-balanced protein shake may serve as a meal substitute. It's also quite simple to combine carbs and healthy fats in a tasty protein shake. If you are wondering what you can eat with braces on the first day or in the first week, then this might be the answer.
5. Eggs
Eggs are not only very nutritional, but they're also a great soft food to eat with braces, as they don't demand a lot of chewing pressure from your aching teeth. Eggs may be prepared in a variety of ways. With various cheeses, sour cream, tomatoes, or avocado on top of the eggs, you can make a nutritious breakfast to eat with braces.
6. Smoothies
Smoothies are one of the healthiest things to consume when wearing braces. You can make smoothies with a wide range of ingredients, so you'll never get bored. To change the texture and taste, add fruits, vegetables, protein, vitamins, coffee, coconut milk, and other fluids.
If you are wondering what to eat with braces the first week, then look no further. Smoothies make a fantastic soft food for your braces diet.
7. Vegetables
You won't be able to eat most raw vegetables if you've just started wearing braces and your teeth are sore. But cooked vegetables are way easier to eat with braces. Cooked vegetables are soft enough to eat just after getting braces but still have enough taste to be enjoyable.
8. Fish
Fish has been a staple diet for civilizations from the dawn of humanity. Fish has a terrific taste, is fast to cook, and is kind to brace-affected teeth. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, which could potentially help reduce pain and swelling.
9. Yogurt
Yogurt is a great protein-rich food that you can eat during your first week of having braces. Your painful teeth and gums will be soothed by the coolness.
10. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes not only have nutritional benefits but they are a great soft food that you can eat while wearing braces. Bake, steam, fry, or sautée to prepare a comprehensive dinner that is tooth-friendly.
11. Soups
A warm soup is a great meal to have in your first week after getting braces. Soups come in a wide range of flavors and are simple to prepare. If you're short on time, just open a can of soup, reheat it, and you're ready to dine. Soups are a quick and easy soft food to eat with braces.
12. Soft fruits
Fruit is delicious at any time of day and with any meal. Try soft fruits like bananas, grapes, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, or peaches. They can be delicious soft foods for braces. However, be careful with crunchy fruits like apples.
13. Ground turkey or chicken
Braces don't mean you can't eat animal protein. You can’t chew on tough meat while wearing braces, but instead, you can go for a brace-friendly option like ground chicken or ground turkey. You can still enjoy the taste and high protein content while reducing chewing pressure on your sore teeth and gums.
Soft meatballs or patties are also a fantastic way to eat ground meat while wearing braces.
14. Ice cream
Ice cream can be soothing for your painful teeth in the first week after you get braces. But because of the high levels of sugar, make sure to brush and floss your teeth after eating. Learn how to brush teeth with braces.
15. Pudding
Because of their liquidy nature, pudding and Jell-O are great soft foods to eat with braces. There are recipes for all kinds of varieties and flavors.
Watch this video to get some more ideas of what you can eat when you first get your braces.
Conclusion
The first several weeks with your new braces will surely be challenging, but you need not go hungry. You can ask your orthodontist about any foods that will help you get through the tender first few weeks. If you're worried about stains on your teeth when you have braces, read more about how to whiten teeth with braces.
Things will get better! You'll be able to eat most of the normal foods you love and enjoy them in no time!
Meal | Best food for braces |
Breakfast | Oatmeal, scrambled eggs, smoothies, porridge, pancakes, yogurt, bananas |
Lunch & dinner | Pasta and noodles, french toast, soup with soft vegetables, macaroni and cheese, soft-cooked rice, couscous, mashed potatoes, shredded meat, ground meat, meatloaf, cooked beans, egg salad, chicken salad or tuna salad, quinoa, soft tortilla shells |
Snack & dessert | Jell-O, pudding, protein shakes, milkshakes, ice cream, applesauce |
FAQs
What kind of candy can you eat with braces?
Hard candies may be okay for your braces if you don't chew or bite down on them. Soft chocolate is also acceptable for braces, but only in tiny pieces. Caramel and sticky candies should be avoided.
Can you eat cotton candy with braces?
The answer is yes. Cotton candy is rather safe to eat with braces. However, since it contains a lot of sugar, you must brush and floss well afterward to prevent decay.
Can you eat apples with braces?
Your brackets and wires may be damaged if you bite into a full, fresh apple. You may, however, chop your apple into slices so that you just have to chew rather than bite to consume it.
Can you eat potato chips with braces?
Yes, but you must choose the appropriate ones. Braces-friendly snacks include Pringles and “baked” chips. However, just eat one chip at a time to avoid breaking a bracket or a wire. Find out more in our guide to eating chips with braces and eating popcorn with braces.
Can you eat chocolate with braces?
As long as there's no sneaky caramel, toffee, or nuts hidden within, soft milk or white chocolate is perfectly fine to consume with braces. Make sure to brush and floss your teeth afterward.
Can you eat ice cream with braces?
Are you wondering if you can eat ice cream with braces? The basic answer is that it's okay to eat ice cream with braces. But stay away from anything hard, like an ice cream cone or nuts.
Can you eat peanut butter with braces?
While wearing braces, you can still have your peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Chunky peanut butter should be avoided at all costs, while creamy peanut butter is totally fine when wearing braces.
Can you chew gum with braces?
People with expanders should not chew gum; however, those with standard braces may if the gum is sugar-free and it's on the ADA (American Dental Association) approved list.