The Top 7 Things You Should Not Do While Wearing Braces

Whether you just got braces fitted for the first time, or you have been wearing them for months, you probably know by now that there are certain things that you should try to avoid while wearing braces.

There is nothing worse than eating the wrong foods, twisting your wires or breaking a bracket, and having to wait for an appointment to get your braces fixed.

What habits or foods should you avoid while wearing braces? How can you prevent your brackets from breaking off and shifting your wires? 

Thankfully, we created this article to answer those exact questions! Keep on reading to learn everything about what you should avoid while wearing braces, and what you can do to keep your orthodontic treatment on track.

Let’s get started!

1. Foods To Avoid

Eating the wrong types of food is one of the most common causes of damaged braces. You do not have to change your entire diet, but you may need to change a few things. A few of the main foods you should try to avoid are:

Chewing Gum

While wearing braces, it is smart to just stay away from anything sticky in general, especially anything that sticks to your teeth. Anything that sticks to your teeth will stick to your braces, causing possible damage. 

Chewing gum can pull on your brackets, rubber bands, wires, causing them to pull out of alignment. 

Chewing Ice

Chewing on ice not only puts your braces at risk, but it could also damage your teeth! Ice is hard, and the bigger the piece of ice, the more you should stay away from chewing on it. 

Hard and Crunchy Foods

Any food that is classified as crunchy should be avoided while you are wearing braces. This includes hard potato chips, apples, popcorn, hard toast, etc.

Some of these foods can still be enjoyed, but you may need to cut them up first, like apples, carrots, and celery. Instead of crunchy, sugary breakfast cereal, opt for oatmeal with maple syrup instead.

Sticky Foods

There are some obvious sticky foods such as candied apples that most people know to avoid while wearing braces, and there are some not so obvious foods like gummy bears, most candies, chocolate bars, toffee, etc.

The best thing about avoiding sticky foods is that most of them are full of sugar anyway, so not only are you improving the health of your braces and teeth, but you are also improving your overall health and well-being. 

The wrong types of sugars can lead to weight gain, diabetes, tooth decay, anxiety, malnutrition, and other concerning health conditions. 

Foods That Get Into Your Teeth

If any foods get stuck in your teeth, you will want to try to eliminate them from your diet while you are wearing braces. 

Corn on the cob is commonly known to damage braces, along with mangos, popcorn, crackers with little seeds, chewy meats, etc.

If you are going to enjoy these foods, just be mindful that you are wearing braces! Try to eat slowly and be smart about your decisions.

2. Don’t Use Your Teeth As a Tool

It is quite hard to think that many people, despite wearing braces, still feel the need to use their teeth as a tool! 

Whether you are wearing braces or not, you should never use your teeth to open up bottles, tear open bags, bend wires, holding anything, or do anything except for eating. 

Yes, it is true that our ancestors used their teeth as tools, and they also experienced major tooth traumas and decay. Times have changed, and we have actual tools for that now. 

3. Try to Avoid Soda Pops

We recommend trying to avoid too much sugar and carbonation in your drinks. If you do decide to enjoy your favorite carbonated beverage, try to rinse your mouth out with water afterwards. This will help to limit the amount of acids and sugars that linger on your braces and your teeth. This will also reduce your chances of developing cavities.

4. Do Not Forget Your Routines

Adding braces to your daily routine means that you have a bit more to be conscious of your daily activities. For example, if you have elastic bands to help with jaw mobility, you need to take them out before eating. 

5. Chewing On Non-Food Items

Out of nervousness and anxiety, many people chew on random things to help ease their nerves and boredom.

Stay away from chewing on pencils, pens, and fingernails. Not only is it non-hygienic, but it is also dangerous for your teeth. 

6. Use Guards For Athletics

If you participate in sports, we recommend that you wear a mouthguard. Your Orthodontist can design a special mouthguard for you so that you can continue playing the sports you love, all while protecting your braces and your mouth.

7. Grinding Your Teeth

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, affects over 31% of the population. This is a common stress response for many people. Sometimes you don’t even realize that you’re grinding your teeth!

There are a few ways to deal with bruxism, such as wearing a nightguard while you sleep. Your Orthodontist can create the perfect nightguard so you can keep your teeth and braces safe while you sleep.

Learn More About What to Avoid While Wearing Braces

Wearing braces can take some getting used to at the beginning. However, nothing can top that confident feeling of loving your smile after your treatment.

To learn more about how to care for your braces, or to inquire about starting orthodontic treatment, feel free to contact us.

We can schedule an initial consultation to discuss the best possible options for you and your oral health. We can’t wait to meet you!