Braces slowly move your teeth over time. This is made possible thanks to the periodontal ligament, a specialized connective tissue that surrounds the roots of the teeth and anchors them to the jawbone (Stay with us here, we have a point!)…
While the periodontal ligament makes movement of the teeth relative to each other and the jawbone possible, the amount of pressure and force required to shift teeth (even slowly over time with orthodontic treatment) is pretty noticeable.
In other words, braces cause discomfort. Some might even go so far as to call the discomfort slightly painful.
Braces are also expensive, costing $2,500-$7,500 or more on average.
How does this relate to food, you might ask? Well, taken together, these two things ─ sensitivity and risk of damage ─ are the top two reasons why you will want to adjust your diet while wearing braces. This is especially true as you’re getting used to them during the first week to the first month of orthodontic treatment.
Now that you know the “why” let’s explore the “what” -in the form of 17 foods to eat during your first week of braces and 12 foods to avoid.
17 Foods to Embrace During Your First Week of Braces
As the American Association of Orthodontists notes, the period right after your braces are freshly installed, ranging from a few days to a week or so, is the most uncomfortable.
Every time your braces are tightened when you visit the orthodontist (which is usually about every 6-10 weeks or so), you’ll experience some sensitivity, sure. So, these tips also apply to the period directly after orthodontic adjustments. Still, the initial period after braces is going to be the time that they are most helpful because braces will be so new to you.
So, when it comes to the question of what to eat with braces the first week, does fast food reign supreme, or ice cream? How about mashed potatoes or yogurt?
Here’s a list of 9 Soft Snacks That Are Braces-Friendly:
- Smoothies
- Yogurt
- String cheese
- Grapes
- Bananas
- Applesauce
- Sweet potato fries
- Pudding or custard
- Hummus
The key to eating the first week of braces? Embrace the 3 S’s: Soft. Soft. And Soft. (yes, it’s so important we said it three times!)
What about other options, you might be thinking? The American Academy of Orthodontists recommends these additional foods during your first week of braces:
- Oatmeal
- Scrambled eggs
- Soups
- Pasta
- Soft flaky fish
- Steamed or boiled soft vegetables
- Mashed potatoes
- Ice cream
Just know that while your friends might tell you to eat milkshakes or soup, you might want to be mindful of the temperature of foods you eat as well as the texture as your teeth may be more sensitive to extreme temperatures during your first week wearing braces.
12 Foods to Avoid During Your First Week of Braces
Many of these apply throughout your entire orthodontic journey wearing braces, but during your first day or first week wearing braces, they’ll be especially important to avoid.
The commonality between them all? If soft foods are to be embraced, chewy, crunchy, and sticky ones are to be avoided:
- Popcorn
- Chewy bread
- Chewy cuts of meat
- Hard candy
- Corn on the cob, whole apples, and other whole fruits
- Sticky/tacky candy
- Nuts
- Crunchy vegetables and fruits
- Pizza crust
- Bagels
- Ice
- Crunchy snacks like chips and pretzels
A Note On Nutrition & The Oral Microbiome
The importance of eating food with good nutritional value doesn’t diminish while wearing braces. In fact, the opposite is true.
Braces make it more difficult to reach all those nooks and crannies both in your teeth and gums, making oral care that much more important for a person who wears braces. And part of oral care is eating the right foods. That’s because diet has a 1:1 effect on the oral microbiome, which in turn affects things like tooth decay.
Or, as we phrased it in the blog we just linked to, “Cavities aren’t caused solely by sugar itself, but rather by the process where oral bacteria consume sugar (and similar foods) and produce acid as a byproduct.”
So, while you may feel free to eat ice cream the day after you got your braces on (if your teeth aren’t too sensitive), don’t throw healthy eating habits out the window when wearing braces just for the sake of comfort; instead, strive for foods that are:
- Soft
- Nutritious
- Are less inclined to create a more acidic oral pH, which in turn can lead to cavities & tooth decay
Want to learn more about how to supercharge your oral health with or without braces? Check out our blog post “Mouth 101”.
Give Your Mouth Some Love With pH-Alkalizing Mouthcare Products
Considering braces for your child? Schedule an appointment with our Orthodontists at The Super Dentists!
Meanwhile, we invite you to learn more about how to choose oral care products for you or your child with braces more mindfully by checking out SuperMouth’s informative blog post “Antibiotics, Prebiotics, and Probiotics in Oral Care: Harnessing Nature’s Wisdom”.
