Dentists from Dentaleh recommend braces for the correction of several dental conditions. Most people who get braces easily adjust to the slight pain and pressure in a couple of weeks. But what most people who have braces find hard to adjust to is the changes their diet has to undergo. Many of your favorite foods will become taboo because of how easily they stick to and damage your braces.
The good news is that you don’t have to say goodbye to every food item you enjoy eating. There are still lots of food you can enjoy even as you have your braces on. This article will look at the different foods you can safely eat when you have braces and when it is safe to eat them. We will also look at some foods you need to avoid.
The First Few Days After
Getting braces put in is a relatively painless process, but you may feel pressure and pain for a few days after the procedure. This period is usually the toughest, and it would be best to avoid tough foods that require a lot of chewing during this time.
Your dentist will most likely recommend that you stick to eating soft foods during this period. Foods like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, seafood, soft vegetables, pasta, etc., are the best for times like this. Foods that are almost liquid, like soups and yogurt, are also very good.
After a while, the pain and pressure will subside, and you can go back to a semblance of what your usual diet was like before you got braces.
Safe Foods To Eat With Braces
Even after the pain and pressure are gone, you still have to be careful with what you eat. You got the braces because you wanted a perfect set of dentitions, and you do not want to damage them before they can do their job. So to help you keep them safe, we have listed some of the best foods to eat while your braces are still on.
Dairy
The beautiful thing about dairy products is how easy it is to eat them. While you still have your braces on, you can eat yogurts, pudding, cottage cheese, and milk. And yes, you can eat Ice cream too.
Dairy also helps keep your teeth strong, so you are eating healthy while protecting your braces.
Meat and Proteins
You do not need to give up on eating these essential parts of your diet just because you got braces. You can still have meat while you still have your braces on. However, they should be easy to chew, so go for soft meat like shredded chicken, meatballs, meatloaf, and lunch meat.
Apart from these, you can also get your proteins from fish and eggs. Fish is an excellent idea because it is easy to eat no matter the cooking method used, and it is also easy to digest, so the benefits go beyond helping you keep your braces safe.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits are a vital part of our diet, and because most fruits come with seeds or require a bit of chewing, you might be worried that you would have to give them up. Fortunately, there are fruits you can take without worrying. Good examples are soft fruits like bananas, blueberries, peaches, and pears. You can use them for snacks or desserts.
Cooked vegetables are also very good for people with braces. Mashed potatoes, cooked beans, and steamed vegetables are easy on the teeth and provide tons of nutrients.
Other Options
Apart from what we listed here, there are a lot of other foods you can eat while you still have your braces. You can eat bread, baked products, and grains, and you don’t have to give up on your favorite casserole or PB&J sandwiches. A cup of jello or some grilled cheese is not bad for your braces too.
There is a lot you can eat when you have braces on, and the only restrictions are the ones you create yourself. You can research and think up new recipes that are good for your braces and are delicious.
What Happens If You Eat Something You Shouldn’t?
This isn’t something I would advise you to do. When you eat foods that you shouldn’t, you put your braces at risk and, in worse case scenarios, your teeth too. Avoid foods high in sugar or that tend to stick to your teeth. Do not eat hard foods that will require you to bite down hard. Nachos, tacos, and apples are good examples. Popcorns are officially off-limits because their kernels are hard and can easily stick to your teeth.
Parting Words
Braces are meant to give you that perfect smile, but if you do not take care of them, you might waste your money and not be the better for it. Make sure you only eat what you are allowed to eat. Contact your dentist if you have any doubts. Having braces is no reason to neglect teeth hygiene. Keep your teeth clean to keep smiling confidently after your braces come off.
This dentist who does oral surgery in Marlborough also adds that if traditional braces are too inconvenient for you, then you can ask your dentist if you can do Invisalign instead since they are less obtrusive.
Source by Dentaleh – Singapore Dental portal
