At Maddux Orthodontics in Virginia Beach, VA, we know getting braces is an exciting step toward a healthier, more confident smile. Your first few days may require some changes to your usual meals. If you’re wondering what to eat with braces, choosing softer foods makes eating more comfortable when your teeth feel sensitive. Having a few easy meal and snack ideas ready makes this adjustment more comfortable while helping protect your appliance.
Why Soft Foods Are Helpful
After the appliance is first placed, your teeth may feel sore or sensitive as your mouth adjusts. During this time, knowing what to eat with braces makes meals more comfortable. Soft foods are easier to chew and place less stress on sensitive teeth during the adjustment period.
Instead of worrying about what you can’t eat, focus on the many soft foods you can enjoy. Yogurt, pudding, oatmeal, soups, stews, soft cheeses, smoothies and other gentle foods provide plenty of options during your first week.
Easy Breakfast: Oatmeal With Soft Fruit
Oatmeal makes a simple breakfast when your teeth feel sensitive. Oatmeal and porridge are among the soft foods that work well during the first week. If you’re deciding what to eat with braces in the morning, oatmeal paired with soft fruit provides an easy option.
Soft fruits are also a good choice throughout treatment. Bananas, ripe pears and seedless grapes are easy to chew. If you want apples, steaming or baking them instead of biting into a whole raw apple makes them easier to eat.
Simple Lunch: Soft Soup or Stew
Soup or stew provides a satisfying lunch without requiring a lot of chewing. Soups and stews are soft food options for the first week. They are useful options when you’re figuring out what to eat with braces while your teeth adjust.
Cooked vegetables also make a great addition to your meals. Steamed carrots, mashed potatoes and roasted squash are examples of soft, easy-to-chew foods. Cooking vegetables until they are soft makes them easier to chew while keeping them nutritious.
Easy Dinner: Pasta With Soft Protein
Pasta is another soft, easy-to-eat option for a simple dinner. Pasta and rice are among soft foods that are suitable during treatment. For anyone wondering what to eat with braces at dinnertime, pasta paired with a soft protein offers a simple combination.
Soft proteins such as scrambled eggs, ground turkey, flaky fish and tofu are also recommended options. These foods provide variety while remaining easy to chew during the first few days after.
Snack Ideas: Yogurt, Smoothies and Pudding
You don’t have to give up snacks. Yogurt, smoothies, pudding, applesauce and soft cheeses are all options. These foods also give you easy answers when you’re wondering what to eat with braces between meals.
Smoothies can be made with soft fruits such as bananas, berries, or mangoes. If you enjoy something sweet, ice cream is another soft option. However, maintaining good oral hygiene remains important throughout treatment.
Foods to Avoid
Knowing what to eat with braces also means understanding which foods to avoid. We suggest avoiding hard, sticky, or crunchy and chewy foods, because they may damage brackets or wires.
Examples include popcorn, nuts, gum, taffy, caramel, hard pretzels, crunchy chips, crusty breads and hard taco shells. These foods may damage your appliances or become difficult to remove.
You don’t necessarily have to eliminate every crunchy food. Apples and carrots, for example, can be cut into small pieces rather than eaten whole. Corn on the cob should also be removed from the cob before eating.
Keep Your Appliance Clean After Meals
Choosing appliance-friendly foods is only part of caring for your smile. When learning what to eat with braces, it’s also important to consider how you will care for your teeth afterward. Keep up with brushing at least twice a day and flossing every day.
If possible, brushing after each meal helps remove food particles that become trapped around brackets and wires. When brushing isn’t possible, rinsing your mouth with water for about 30 seconds helps dislodge food debris.
Make Your First Week Easier
Your first few days are an adjustment, but planning soft meals and snacks makes the experience easier. From oatmeal and smoothies to pasta, cooked vegetables, yogurt and soft proteins, you have plenty of choices when deciding what to eat with braces.
Following these food recommendations also helps protect your appliance throughout treatment. If you have questions about what to eat with braces or caring for your appliances, our team at Maddux Orthodontics in Virginia Beach, VA is here to help you throughout your journey.
Request Your Complimentary Consultation
Have questions about what to eat with braces or adjusting to your new orthodontic appliances? Request your complimentary consultation today to get personalized guidance and support throughout your treatment.