Getting braces is a significant step toward achieving a straighter smile, but the initial adjustment period can be challenging, especially when it comes to eating. The first few days often involve soreness and tenderness as the teeth and gums react to the new orthodontic hardware. This discomfort is a normal result of the pressure applied to shift the teeth into alignment. Restrictions on what you eat serve two main purposes: managing sensitivity and protecting the newly placed brackets and wires from damage.
Soft Foods for the Initial Days
During the first three to seven days, when your teeth are most sensitive, the diet should consist primarily of foods requiring little to no chewing effort. Nutrient-dense liquids and pureed options are excellent choices to maintain energy and nutrition without irritating sore gums. Smoothies made with yogurt, milk, and soft fruits like bananas or berries are ideal because they are easy to consume and can be chilled, which helps soothe the mouth.
Comforting starches that minimize pressure on the teeth include creamy mashed potatoes, soft-cooked pasta like macaroni and cheese, and oatmeal or cream of wheat. These foods are gentle on sensitive teeth and provide necessary carbohydrates. For protein, scrambled eggs are an excellent, soft, and nutrient-rich option.
Other safe protein sources include soft fish, such as baked salmon or cod, and tender options like soft tofu or thin soups and broths. When selecting fruits and vegetables, focus on cooked or pureed forms like applesauce, steamed soft vegetables, or ripe fruits like bananas. The temporary nature of this highly restrictive diet means it will quickly pass, allowing a gradual return to more varied, yet still brace-safe, foods.
Types of Foods That Cause Damage
Certain foods must be avoided for the entire duration of orthodontic treatment because they pose a threat to the integrity of the braces. These items can bend the archwire, pop off a bracket, or break the appliance, which prolongs treatment and necessitates an unplanned repair visit. Categorizing these forbidden foods by the type of damage they cause helps make the restrictions clear.
The first category includes hard and crunchy items, which exert excessive pressure on the brackets and wires. This group includes ice, nuts, hard candies, popcorn kernels, chips, and hard bread crusts. Chewing these items can instantly snap a wire or dislodge a bracket from the tooth surface.
Sticky and gooey foods form the second danger category because they adhere tightly to the braces, making them difficult to clean and potentially pulling hardware loose. Examples include caramel, taffy, chewing gum, and other chewy sweets. These foods also leave sugary residue trapped around the brackets, increasing the risk of tooth decay and plaque buildup.
The final group consists of foods that require forceful front biting, which can also dislodge brackets. This includes whole raw carrots, corn on the cob, and whole apples. While the whole item is prohibited, these foods can be safely consumed if they are first cut into small, bite-sized pieces and chewed with the back teeth.
Eating Techniques to Minimize Pain
Beyond selecting soft foods, how a patient physically eats during the first few days can significantly reduce discomfort. A primary technique is to avoid using the front teeth for biting or tearing food, as these teeth are the most sensitive due to the pressure of the new braces. Instead, patients should focus on chewing with the back molars, which are stronger and can handle soft foods more comfortably.
Cutting all food, even soft foods like pancakes or bread, into very small, manageable pieces limits the pressure required for chewing. This prevents the need to open the mouth wide or apply excessive force to sensitive teeth. Cold foods and drinks can also provide temporary relief by mildly numbing the soreness caused by the orthodontic forces.
Consuming frozen yogurt, ice cream without hard inclusions, or simply sipping cold water during a meal helps soothe irritated tissues. The cold temperature acts similarly to an ice pack, reducing inflammation and discomfort around the teeth and gums.
When Restrictions Start to Ease
The period of acute soreness and heightened sensitivity typically lasts between three and seven days after the braces are first placed. After this initial adjustment period, the tenderness subsides, and a wider variety of soft foods becomes comfortable to eat. Patients can then transition from a liquid and pureed diet to more moderate soft options like sandwiches, soft meats, and cooked vegetables.
While mouth soreness is temporary, restrictions on damage-causing foods are permanent for the entire duration of treatment. Hard, sticky, and chewy items must be avoided until the braces are fully removed to prevent breakage. Patients should anticipate that subsequent adjustment or tightening appointments will likely cause a return of temporary soreness, necessitating a brief two-day return to the soft food diet.