Most of what you already eat can stay on the menu with braces. The changes are mainly about how food is cut and which teeth do the biting, plus a short list of foods that are hard enough, sticky enough or tough enough to break a bracket or bend a wire. A broken bracket usually means an extra repair visit, and breakages are linked with longer treatment, so a little care at meals pays off.
Why some foods break braces
Brackets are bonded to the enamel with a tooth coloured adhesive that holds up well to normal chewing but not to sudden, concentrated force. Biting into something hard puts a sharp load on one bracket and can snap the bond. Sticky foods grip the bracket and wire and pull them as you open your mouth. Tough, chewy foods need long, heavy chewing that can bend the wire or work a bracket loose over time. Popcorn husks and stringy foods do not usually break anything, but they wedge under the wire and are hard to clear.
When you are unsure about a food, ask whether it is hard, sticky or very chewy. If the answer is yes, either skip it or change how you eat it.
Foods best left until the braces come off
Hard lollies, ice cubes, nuts, popcorn (especially half popped kernels), hard pretzels, corn chips with sharp edges and pizza crust or very crusty bread eaten by tearing with the front teeth. Caramel, toffee, fudge, chewing gum, gummy lollies and many muesli bars. Jerky, very tough steak and chewy bagels.
Some foods only need a change in method. Corn can be cut off the cob. Apples, pears and raw carrots can be sliced thinly or grated. Chicken wings and ribs can be taken off the bone with a knife and fork.
A normal day of eating with braces
Breakfast
Porridge, yoghurt, eggs in any form, soft toast without a hard crust, pancakes, smoothies and soft or sliced fruit all work well. Granola and toasted muesli are better replaced with softer cereals soaked in milk.
Lunch
Soft sandwiches and wraps, pasta, rice dishes, soups and salads with tender leaves are fine. Cut sandwiches into small pieces rather than biting through with the front teeth. Leafy greens can catch around brackets, so a quick rinse after eating helps.
Dinner
Fish, mince, slow cooked or tender meat, tofu, noodles, curries, stir fries with soft vegetables, mashed or roasted potato and most cooked vegetables are all suitable. Cut meat into small pieces and chew with the back teeth.
Snacks and treats
Cheese, soft crackers, banana, berries, sliced melon, hummus with soft bread, and plain chocolate without caramel or nuts are reasonable options. Keep sugary and acidic drinks such as soft drink, sports drinks and juice to a minimum, because sugar and acid sitting around brackets increases the risk of decay and white marks on the enamel.
The first few days need softer food
Teeth are usually tender for the first few days after braces are fitted and for a day or two after each adjustment. The ache tends to peak within the first day or two and then fade over the following days. During that time, choose food that needs little chewing: soup, mashed potato, scrambled eggs, pasta, yoghurt, smoothies and well cooked vegetables. Cold foods such as ice cream or chilled yoghurt can feel soothing. Over-the-counter pain relief taken as directed on the packet may help, and orthodontic wax over a bracket that rubs the cheek can make eating more comfortable. Our article on the first week with braces covers this period in more detail.
Clean up after eating
Food collects quickly around brackets, so cleaning becomes part of each meal. Brush when you can, use an interdental brush or floss threader around the brackets, and rinse with water when brushing is not possible. If something lodges under the wire, our guide to food stuck in braces explains how to remove it safely.
Common questions
What should I do if a bracket comes loose while eating?
Keep any loose piece, cover anything sharp with orthodontic wax and contact the practice managing your braces to arrange a repair. Do not wait until your next routine visit. If a wire is poking, our first aid guide for a poking braces wire may help.
Do the same rules apply when I am wearing elastics?
Mostly, yes. Elastics are usually taken out to eat and replaced straight after cleaning. Our article on orthodontic elastics explains how to wear them.
Are the food rules the same for adults?
Yes. Brackets behave the same at any age. Our guide to adult braces covers other considerations for adults. People in clear aligners have different rules, because the trays come out for meals; see our article on aligner attachments and IPR.
If you have questions about eating with braces, or a bracket has come loose, our team at Lumi Dental in Melrose Park can help with check-ups and repairs alongside your orthodontic care. Book with a general dentist or see the current deals page.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your dentist or orthodontist.
