Orthodontic Food List

Eating Habits That Must Stop

• Caramel
• Caramel apples
• All sticky candy including Toffee, Now & Laters, Sugar Daddys, Sugar Babies, Skittles, Starburst, Gummy Bears, Gummy Worms, and Fruit Roll Ups
• Popcorn
• All hard candy including Jolly Ranchers, Lifesavers, Peppermints, Lollipops
• Ice
• Pizza crust edges
• Bagels
• Beef jerky
• DO NOT suck on Lemons or Limes (harmful to tooth enamel)
• Do NOT chew on pens, pencils, straws, or fingernails

Eating Habits That Must Yield!

• Whole crispy fruits and vegetables (cut fruit and vegetable into small bit size pieces)
• Hard, crusty breads (tear into small bit size pieces)
• Corn chips and potato chips (break into bit size pieces)
• Fresh corn on the cob (limit to special occasions only)
• Sugary drinks or sodas (limit to special occasions only)
• Meat on the bone (cut meat off the bone into small pieces)

SUGARLESS gum is allowed if you DO NOT have any bonded appliances for example upper or lower expanders, Herbst, or Forses.

Hard foods may do damage by bending wires, loosening cement under the bands and/or brackets. Sticky foods may damage appliances by bending wires and pulling cement loose. Avoid foods high in sugar content whenever possible. If you do eat any of them, eat them only at the end of a meal and brush your teeth immediately. If it is not convenient to brush, then always rinse your mouth with water after eating very sweet foods like candy and soda. Damage to braces may result in treatment taking longer to complete.

Patients that participate in sports that require a mouth guard should ask us about an orthodontic mouth guard. In case of any accidents involving the face, be sure to check your mouth and the appliances. If any appliances are loosened or damaged, contact our office immediately.