Summer Foods to Avoid While in Braces

Long Beach, CA – The summer months bring with them warmer temperatures, accompanied by barbecues and yummy treats. But if you wear braces, you must take extra care to avoid damaging your brackets and wires. So, which summer foods should you avoid?

When you wear braces, you must be more responsible about your food choices. Foods that are hard, sticky, chewy or crunchy can pull on the brackets and wires, causing damage and maybe even setting back your treatment time. Pay close attention to what foods can spell trouble for your braces.

Cookouts and barbecues will probably be filling your summer evenings, but some common foods found at these gatherings are on the “NO” list if you wear braces. Ribs or other meats that are eaten off the bone should be avoided – your brackets could become dislodged while biting into them. Likewise, corn on the cob can be damaging. Don’t worry though, ribs and corn can still be enjoyed, they just need to be cut off the bone and cob, respectively. Other cookout staples, such as potato salad, mac and cheese, and baked beans are great choices.

Movie nights with friends are probably also high on the summer priority list. Popcorn can also be damaging to braces, as can sticky and chewy candies such as Milk Duds and gummy bears. Substitute a warm soft pretzel for the popcorn and choose a frozen yogurt or slushie to fulfill your sweet tooth. Another great alternative to popcorn (and personal favorite) is pirate booty, as there are no kernels to risk breaking any brackets off.

Treats like ice cream and popsicles can be enjoyed and may even soothe any discomfort experienced by orthodontic tooth movement. Remember that while it is okay to indulge your sweet tooth in these desserts, you still want to be sure you are taking good care of your teeth by brushing well after eating anything high in sugar content. For a healthier alternative, enjoy fresh summer fruits, such as watermelon, to meet your craving for sweets. Or, try your hand at making a delicious and healthy homemade ice cream using frozen bananas. Try this peanut butter banana ice cream or this chocolate banana ice cream.

If you are in orthodontic treatment and have chosen Invisalign as your treatment option, the good news is you won’t have to avoid as many foods. Since your aligners are removable, you can simply pop them out before you eat your corn on the cob. However, you need to remember to remove your aligners every time you eat – even if it’s just a little snack. Eating with the aligners still in can damage them, making them less effective in moving your teeth.

If you wear Invisalign, it’s also important to reduce your snacking in between meals. Every time you eat, you must remove the aligners. And the more time the aligners are out of your mouth, the less time they are working at moving your teeth to their new locations. Removing them often also increase your risk of misplacing or losing an aligner altogether, so make sure to put them in your case (and not a napkin!) when you remove them.

Invisalign patients should also take care to brush after eating to remove any leftover food particles before putting their aligners back in. Putting the aligners in right after eating can trap these particles against your teeth, and over time this can result in tooth decay if not cleaned appropriately.

Your orthodontist wants you to enjoy a (mostly) carefree summer. But when you wear braces or Invisalign, you do have to stop to think about what the best options are for you and pay a little closer attention to your food choices and oral hygiene habits. The good news is, once you know what to do, it is like second nature. If you ever have questions about caring for your braces or the best food options, don’t hesitate to talk to your orthodontist. HD Orthodontics is always happy to answer questions or address patient concerns. Call our office at 562-283-6590.