It is advised to avoid eating nachos while wearing braces because the extreme hardness of tortilla chips can damage the orthodontic hardware. Orthodontic treatment uses brackets and wires to gently shift teeth into alignment. Protecting the appliances from physical stress requires dietary modifications to ensure the treatment progresses on schedule and avoids unnecessary repairs. The desire to enjoy foods like nachos must be balanced against the risk of breaking or dislodging a bracket.
The Immediate Risk of Nachos and Braces
The primary concern with consuming nachos centers on the mechanical properties of the tortilla chip itself. Tortilla chips are hard and rigid, posing a direct threat to the adhesive bond holding the brackets onto the teeth. The force required to crush a chip during biting can easily exceed the bond strength of the dental cement. This force can cause a bracket to pop off the tooth surface.
Furthermore, the chips’ sharp edges can pose a risk beyond just the hardware. These jagged pieces may cut or irritate the delicate tissues of the gums, cheeks, and inner lips, which are often sensitive due to the braces. As the chips break down, small fragments can become lodged underneath the archwires or around the brackets, making proper cleaning difficult. These trapped pieces increase the risk of plaque buildup and subsequent enamel demineralization.
General Guidelines for Eating with Orthodontics
Most food restrictions during orthodontic treatment fall into three main categories of texture. Hard and crunchy foods, such as nuts, ice, and hard candies, should be avoided because they can bend wires or break off brackets upon impact. Sticky and chewy items, including caramel and taffy, are problematic because they can pull wires out of their slots or loosen the bands around the back teeth.
The third category includes foods that require biting directly into them with the front teeth, which puts excessive leverage on the front brackets. Items like whole apples, raw carrots, and corn on the cob should be cut into small pieces before eating. When eating any approved food, chew primarily with the back teeth to minimize stress applied to the front brackets. Breaking hardware, such as a popped bracket or a bent wire, often results in an unscheduled repair appointment and can extend the overall treatment timeline.
Safe Alternatives and Modifications
Satisfying a craving for the flavors of nachos without the damaging crunch is possible through careful modifications. One approach is to allow the cheese sauce or other toppings to thoroughly soften the tortilla chips before eating them. Soaking the chip until it loses its rigid structure significantly reduces the risk of damage.
A safer alternative involves replacing the high-risk tortilla chips with a softer base that offers a similar vehicle for the toppings. Baked potato chips or thin-cut, plain potato chips are less rigid and may be eaten one at a time, chewed with the back teeth.
Another modification is to build “totchos” using soft, baked tater tots as the foundation for the melted cheese and toppings. Soft taco shells can also serve as a safe base for traditional nacho ingredients.