When wearing any orthodontic appliance that is cemented to your teeth, such as braces and expanders, you might need to modify your diet to eliminate:
HARD FOODS, such as…
- Ice
- Corn chips
- Hard Candy (Jolly Ranchers, etc.)
- Lollypops
- Peppermint sticks and candy canes
- Lifesavers
- Large pretzels
STICKY FOODS, such as…
- Gum (especially bubble gum)
- Caramels
- Taffy
- Now and Later candy
- Tootsie rolls
- Starburst
- Licorice
- Skittles
Also, DON’T chew on:
- Pens
- Pencils
- Fingernails
- ETC.
Use common sense when choosing food to put in your mouth. Just because you don’t see it on our list, doesn’t mean it won’t damage your braces! Remember that broken appliances can slow down your treatment.