foods for kids with braces

[momz]

DD is getting braces soon. I need some advice on what she can and cannot eat. Any suggestions on how to deal with school lunches and snacks? Thanks.

 

[mjkacmom]

Dd14 wore a palate expander for a couple of years, and has had braces on for 2 1/2 years now. I also had them as a teen. Sure, we got the list of foods to avoid, and she eats all of them, and has never had a problem -I did the same. All of mine will need them.

 

[5 for WDW]

My son has had his braces for almost two years now. We don't allow him to eat sticky things like gum, taffy, etc. He eats pretty much everything else. When he gets them tightened he needs soft things like soup or yogurt but, that is the only time he has an issue.
The orthodontist told him no pizza crust or nuts. But, those are two of his favorite things. He just eats them carefully. Popcorn as well.

I am sure you will be given a list.

 

[sbeaulieu]

The only things I "couldn't" eat when I had braces was corn on the cob and really sticky things like gum or caramel.

 

[Fyrefly]

Corn on the cob is physically impossible because the brackets will scrape the corn before the teeth can get to it so you can't really bite it off.

Gum, taffy, etc. are a complete no. They are terrible for braces.

Mainly I followed a rule of thumb to eat hard things or things that might crumble carefully. Your DD will get very good with biting with her molars and I admit even now I don't use my front teeth for much (I was in 5 years of braces I'm still avoiding popping off phantom brackets ).

Also its important to avoid the chomping bite on things that are even remotely hard. Like biting right into an apple with your front teeth. That motion will catch the brackets and pop them off.

Just be careful and really truly don't chew gum, no matter how much she may want to. I've seen the mouths of kids that chewed at my ortho and it was NOT pretty. And you'll get a list, so don't worry too much.

 

[drinkme]

After the first few days it will be things like applesauce, soup, yogurt. By the end of the week after getting her braces, dd was able to eat soft pasta. After that, she pretty much was able to eat anything.

She stays away from hard stuff, no nuts, no popcorn. But her ortho said she can chew sugarless gum.

Snacks we pack for lunches are yogurt, applesauce, soft cookies, goldfish, PB & skinny pretzel sticks, etc.

HTH

 

[mamaLori05]

Dd14 wore a palate expander for a couple of years, and has had braces on for 2 1/2 years now. I also had them as a teen. Sure, we got the list of foods to avoid, and she eats all of them, and has never had a problem -I did the same. All of mine will need them.

Same here. When I was a teen with braces I got the list from the doc, but didn't really need to avoid those foods. I found as long as I was more careful when eating them everything was just fine. The only food I avoided was taffy. I even chewed sugarless gum everyday and was fine. I just made sure I chewed it and kept it back by my back molars. It never got stuck in my braces, but I wasn't blowing bubbles or moving it all around or anything either.

 

[PatsMom]

I had braces as an adult and other than really sticky stuff, I ate pretty much everything. If it is hard to bite into (like pizza crust) just cut it into bite size pieces. When they tightened the braces, I did have soft food for a few days usually.

Gum is a no-no. I tried and it just wasn't a good thing!

 

[littledreamer7]

We got a list too, basically we stay away from really sticky candy (ex. Starburst, skittles, taffy) other than that she eats most anything... Gum is a no no unless it's sugarfree then they can chew it.

 

[scrapquitler]

The ortho will give her alist when she gets her braces on.
I remember from my daughters ortho: No doritos, no caramel, no gum, no sticky candies (they give a very specific list to remind you at Halloween), no popcorn. They said to cut up (not bite into) hard fruits/veggies like carrots and apples. No nuts.

 

[v.t.]

I have braces on now, as an adult and my DS has an expander and getting brackets next month. I can eat almost anything, as long as I don't have to use my front teeth. I pretty much cut up my food into bite size pieces and use my back teeth. For snacks send applesauce, apples peeled and cut in thin slices, peach cups, etc. For DS I use a pizza cutter or food scissors to cut up his food, it works great.
The ortho suggested to chew sugarless gum, that it will help with soreness. The biggest pain is using dental floss. It has added a good 10 minutes to my bedtime routine.
Good luck!

 

[bear_mom]

I'm surprised at all the "no gum" statements here. My ortho encouraged me to chew gum, esp after getting new wires as it would help lessen the pain.

Emily

 

[littledreamer7]

I'm surprised at all the "no gum" statements here. My ortho encouraged me to chew gum, esp after getting new wires as it would help lessen the pain.

Emily

we have the bite blocks to chew plus we can chew gum just sugarfree, not the sticky sugary kind

 

[mdsoccermom]

The only things my daughter doesn't eat with her braces are things like taffy and gum. She eats pretty much anything else, including popcorn. Corn I take off the cob for her, and apples get cut into slices.

 

[momz]

Thank you for your replies. From what I'm reading here, it looks like my concerns are unfounded. I was under the impression her diet would be very limited and anything that she would have to bite into, or is crunchy or sticky would be off limits. But, I'm seeing here that some people chew gum, eat popcorn, and even apples. Perhaps I was concerned for nothing (that's a good thing).

 

[mamaLori05]

Thank you for your replies. From what I'm reading here, it looks like my concerns are unfounded. I was under the impression her diet would be very limited and anything that she would have to bite into, or is crunchy or sticky would be off limits. But, I'm seeing here that some people chew gum, eat popcorn, and even apples. Perhaps I was concerned for nothing (that's a good thing).

oh no, you don't have to limit her diet at all. Maybe the first week as she gets used to them, but after that she will be fine eating whatever she wants.

 

[thebeesknees]

My DH got his on a month ago. Flossing was a pain, so the orthodontist suggested a waterpik instead. BEST PURCHASE EVER for my DH. I really recommend it. It was taking him 20 minutes to floss every night. Now he uses the waterpik and is done in less than 5 minutes. The first week, he only ate pudding and soup. Now he is back to eating pretty much whatever he wants as long as he cuts it up.

Oh, and here's a hint I learned back when I had braces as a teen. Take Tylenol BEFORE you go to get them adjusted. It really helps to have it in your system already rather than to have to wait for it to kick in afterward.