You might be wondering if you need to watch what you eat. If you’re a teenager with braces, these are the foods suitable for teens with braces. The short answer is yes! Even though braces for teens in Morristown are made of metal, they’re not immune to damage from hard, sticky, or crunchy foods.So, for those who want to avoid costly braces repair, it’s best to stick to making dietary changes so you can quickly finish the duration of your orthodontic treatment in Morristown.
Why Do You Need to Adjust Your Diet Slightly?
As orthodontists, we often receive this type of question from patients about whether they need to be careful about what they eat while they have braces. While it’s certainly important to avoid hard and sticky foods that can damage the brackets or wires, there’s no need to go on a special diet.
In fact, most orthodontic problems are caused by improper cleaning, not by what you eat.However, there are a few things to remember when choosing braces-friendly foods. There are a few specific foods that you should definitely avoid while you’re wearing braces, as they have a tendency to get stuck in the brackets or wires and can cause serious damage. So, if you want to keep your braces in tip-top shape, you must be mindful of what you’re eating.
Orthodontists have seen what teens try to eat while wearing braces. Second, some teens think they can get away with eating anything as long as they brush their teeth afterward, which is not the case, unfortunately.
If you do not take care of your braces through the food you eat and it keeps on breaking because you don’t make adjustments to your diet, then you will have to endure the discomfort every time the adjustment day comes.Lastly, changing your chewing technique will greatly help in keeping your brackets intact because as you eat, small chunks of food tend to get collected in between your teeth and braces.
Are the Foods Suitable for Teen’s Braces?
Dairy products: While being easy on braces, soft dairy dishes like milkshakes, smoothies, yoghurt and pudding can offer vital nutrients.
Soft grains: Since they are simple to chew and won’t hurt or harm braces, foods like cooked spaghetti, soft bread, pancakes and oatmeal are good choices.
Soft meats: Choose cooked, tender meats like chicken, turkey, meatballs, or shredded beef over rougher cuts since they are easier to chew and less affected to get stuck in braces.
Steamed or cooked vegetables: Vegetables that have been steamed or boiled until they are tender are a good option for teenagers wearing braces. Steamed carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and soft-cooked peas are among examples.
Soft fruits: While the majority of fruits are healthy, it is preferable to select soft varieties like bananas, berries, sliced melons, and seedless grapes. Avert biting down on fruit with pits or directly into hard fruits like apples.
Soft seafood: Seafood and fish with soft bones, such as salmon, tuna, or prawns, can be an excellent source of nutrition for teenagers wearing braces.
Rich in nutrients soups: Comforting and nourishing soups with softer ingredients can be found in tomato soup, vegetable soup, and chicken noodle soup (with soft noodles).
Desserts devoid of crinkly or gooey ingredients: Choose desserts that won’t damage braces, such as ice cream, custard, soft cakes or gelatin, which don’t contain any hard or sticky ingredients.
Conclusion
As any teenager with braces knows, soft foods are a vital part of your diet. Not only do they help to protect your teeth and brackets from damage, but they also help to keep your orthodontic braces clean.With so many delicious soft food options, there’s no reason not to enjoy a healthy and varied diet while wearing braces. So, if you’re looking for some new soft food ideas or if you have any concerns pertaining to orthodontic treatment, be sure to schedule a consultation with Goldkind Family Orthodontics.