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    • Sep 21, 2022

What to Eat When You First Get Braces?

Updated: Nov 21, 2023

When you first get braces, or even after a significant adjustment, your mouth may feel a little tender and sore. Soft foods that are easy to chew are your best options during these early days. While these foods can help to keep any discomfort to a minimum, they can also protect the brackets and keep your teeth on track to a straight and beautiful smile.


Here are just some of the soft foods you can experiment with to keep your tummy full whilst saving your teeth from doing too much chewing.

  • Mashed potatoes – mashed up boiled potatoes with sour cream, butter, salt, and pepper. You could even add boiled and mashed up carrots, parsnips or cauliflower for additional flavor.

  • Pizza soup – if you crave pizza, you could try a tomato and basil soup

  • Applesauce – you can add some fun to canned applesauce with a little cinnamon and custard, or even make your own for a filling treat.

  • Smoothies – there are plenty of smoothie recipes out there and they are a great option for getting all your nutrients in liquid form.

  • Yoghurt – yoghurt is smooth, creamy, and delicious. You can buy some or even make your own.

  • Baby food – a jar of pureed peaches is delicious, no matter what age you are.

  • Popsicles – refreshing popsicles can help to soothe achy teeth. You can puree fruit and pour it into moulds before sticking it in the freezer for a couple of hours.

  • Scrambled eggs – scrambled eggs are packed full of protein to satisfy your appetite.

  • Roasted veggies –veggies like pumpkin taste amazing when roasted and mashed. You can mix with salt, pepper, and butter.

  • Bone broth – if you’re sick of sweet foods, make a mug of meaty bone broth to hit the spot.

You will find that your braces will become much comfortable as you become accustomed to them. Once this has happened, whilst you can eat most of your favourite foods as normal, it is still important to avoid very hard or very sticky foods in order to avoid damaging the braces.


Eating very hard foods, like peanuts or pizza crusts can bend and break the braces, as can biting into crunchy foods. It is important to keep eating a wide variety of foods, including healthy fruit and veggies (like apples and carrots), however it is important to cut these up first and chew them on the back teeth only. Very sticky foods with low nutritional value (like caramels and toffees) should be avoided.


Should you have any questions, get in touch with your orthodontic office for personalised advice.


 

Learn more about braces:

 



Specialist Orthodontist Input by Dr Martin Fine BDS, MSc, MSc

Dr Martin Fine

Dr Martin Fine

Specialist Orthodontist Dr Martin Fine, BDS, MSc (Orthodontics), is based in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. With over 30 years' experience in private practice, Dr Fine has expertise working with a wide variety of orthodontic appliances, including braces and Invisalign. He has presented at orthodontic conferences globally, and has taught postgraduate orthodontic students at the University of Sydney. Dr Fine is a member of both the AAO (American Association of Orthodontists) and the ASO (Australian Society of Orthodontists), and is a former president of the Alpha-Omega Dental Society's Sydney Chapter.  In the past, Dr Fine's research has been featured in the Angle Orthodontist journal. Dr Fine is committed to providing outstanding patient care using the latest and most effective techniques. Most recently, Dr Fine has developed and introduced the innovative FineLine clear aligner system, which has been specifically developed to meet the needs of patients at Fine Orthodontics.

Written by Danielle Long

Danielle Long

Danielle Long.png

Danielle Long has been assisting in the creation of beautiful smiles at Fine Orthodontics for over 15 years. Holding graduate qualifications in English and Education (BA/BEd UNSW), Dani brings a unique blend of knowledge to her role. She has worked in many different areas of the practice, having served as both Clinical Assistant and Treatment Coordinator over the years. Continually fascinated by the art and science behind orthodontics, Dani is always keen to share her knowledge in order to enhance patient understanding and experience. Dani focuses on facilitating exceptional patient communication and delivering in-depth orthodontic treatment information. She strives to ensure that every individual embarking on their orthodontic journey with Fine Orthodontics feels informed and supported.

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