When wearing braces, the primary dietary guideline is to avoid anything hard, sticky, or overly crunchy that could damage the brackets or wires. Enchiladas, a popular Mexican dish, generally fall into the category of soft foods, meaning they can be safely consumed with intentional modifications and a focus on thorough cleanup.
The Dental Verdict on Eating Enchiladas
Enchiladas are typically considered safe for individuals with braces because the main components—soft-cooked tortillas, seasoned filling, and sauce—are generally low-risk. The dish’s soft, moist consistency prevents excessive force on orthodontic hardware that could dislodge a bracket or bend an archwire. However, damage arises when the corn or flour tortillas are not fully saturated with sauce or are pan-fried to a tougher, chewy consistency.
The stickiness of the melted cheese and dense sauce is a risk factor, as residue easily adheres to the metal surfaces of the braces and can be difficult to dislodge. Furthermore, the high sugar content often found in rich, dark enchilada sauces increases the risk of plaque accumulation and demineralization around the brackets. Any tough or fibrous meat fillings must be cut small, as chewing them can place undue stress on the wires.
Modifying Enchiladas for Safe Consumption
The safety of eating enchiladas depends on preparation and consumption technique to ensure the food remains entirely soft. The tortillas must be completely saturated with sauce and heated thoroughly to prevent the edges from becoming dried out or chewy. If preparing the dish at home, ensure the tortillas are steamed or briefly simmered before rolling, guaranteeing maximum softness.
Use a fork and knife to cut the enchilada into small, bite-sized pieces before eating. This practice eliminates the need to use the front teeth for tearing or biting, which is the most common cause of bracket damage. Instead, place the small portion directly onto the back molars, which are better equipped to handle the grinding motion of chewing. Chew slowly and deliberately, paying attention to the food’s texture to prevent accidental pressure on the braces. It is also wise to let the dish cool slightly before eating, as the heat from the melted cheese can sometimes soften any dental wax used to protect the cheeks and lips.
Immediate Oral Hygiene After Saucy Meals
After consuming a saucy, cheesy meal like enchiladas, immediate and thorough oral hygiene is necessary to prevent dental complications. The highly pigmented nature of chili-based sauces means they can easily stain the clear or light-colored elastic ties that secure the archwire to the brackets. Rinsing the mouth vigorously with water immediately after the last bite helps to wash away the bulk of the sauce and loose food particles.
A detailed cleanup requires specialized tools to reach the many crevices created by the wires and brackets. Interdental brushes are highly effective for sweeping away trapped cheese and fibrous pieces of filling from around the metal hardware and under the archwire. Alternatively, a water flosser can use a pressurized stream of water to blast away sticky residue from hard-to-reach areas. Using a floss threader is necessary to guide traditional floss beneath the archwire to clean between the teeth. Following this deep clean, a visual inspection in a mirror is beneficial to confirm that no colored sauce remains visible around the brackets.