Do you wear braces? Here are 4 food items you should avoid

While braces can help in aligning your teeth, they do come with a list of do’s and don’ts.

Usually regular brushing and eating soft foods can keep your braces healthy, there are some foods which should be avoided at any cost.

Eating the below given foods can disrupt the alignment of braces and in worst cases, even break them.

Here are some foods which you should mindfully refrain from eating, while you have your braces on:

Crunchy food: Popcorn and ice
Foods like popcorn and ice can loosen up your braces, which will lead to food sticking between them. They are hard to chew and thus, can also affect the alignment of the braces. It is best to eat softer food while you have your braces on. Foods like yogurt, soups and lentils could be consumed easily during this time.

Sticky food: Chewing gum and caramel
Chewing gum is probably the worst enemy of braces as it can stick in between the braces and you might face a hard time removing its tiny bits from your mouth. Caramel, on the other hand is too sticky too chew and can deposit on your teeth. The presence of braces can make it hard to remove it, which can further result in tooth cavities. You can eat moist dessert if you crave for sweets, as they do not get stuck and can be easily chewed.

Hard food: Hard candy and nuts
Similarly, hard candies and nuts can disrupt the alignment of your braces, which can defeat their purpose of being there. Biting candies can also break braces, which can also hurt your mouth in the process. Thus, it is recommended to stay away from such items for the meantime and stick to softer foods like pasta, cooked vegetables and even eggs.

Foods that you have to bite into: Apple and carrots
Foods which require direct biting into, such as apples, carrots and pears are a big ‘No’ for people who wear braces. Direct biting into these fruits can harm the front two teeth and can also affect your upper jaw’s braces. You can eat softer foods like bananas, strawberries and oranges, only after cutting them in small pieces.