Tips for Wearing Braces: What Foods You Can and Can’t Eat

As anyone who has had braces knows, improving your smile comes with a big price tag. Part of protecting your investment and making the most of your braces includes knowing what foods you can and cannot eat. This will help you avoid damaging your braces and will keep your teeth looking even better after removing them. 

Why are there foods you should not eat when you get braces?

Your braces include many small parts like brackets, wires, and bands that can all be damaged by eating certain foods. Damaging any important part of your braces may mean another trip to your orthodontist to get it fixed. And it may lead to you having to wear your braces for a longer period of time.

Your oral health can also suffer if you aren’t careful of what you can eat while wearing braces. About 60% of people wearing braces only brush their teeth once per day. Regular brushing twice per day is important for healthy teeth and gums. If you have braces and don’t brush enough, the food debris stuck in your braces can increase your risk of cavities and gum disease.

What foods should you avoid with braces?

Some foods can cause your brackets to break. Foods you should avoid while wearing braces include:

• Hard or sticky candy (like butterscotch or gummy bears)

• Popcorn

• Nuts

• Hard taco shells

• Whole apples

• Celery

• Caramel

• Gum

• Beef jerky

• Tortilla chips

You should also avoid drinking sodas if you have braces.

What are the best food options for people with braces?

There are plenty of food options that won’t damage your braces or leave stubborn stains after your braces are removed. 

Breakfast

• Eggs

• Yogurt

• Smoothies

• Oatmeal

• Soft pastries

• Pancakes

• Bananas

Lunch

• Egg, chicken, or tuna salad

• Sandwiches with soft bread

• Salads (no croutons or big pieces of crunchy veggies allowed)

• Burrito bowls

• Macaroni and cheese

• Soups

Dinner

• Steamed veggies

• Pasta

• Mashed potatoes

• Seafoods

• Pizza (without the crust)

• Spaghetti and meatballs

• Soft dinner rolls

Snacks

• Pita with hummus

• Applesauce

• Watermelon

• Ice cream

• Cottage cheese

Remember, brushing and flossing after each meal will help protect your teeth even more.

How long after getting braces can you eat?

You can eat right after getting braces. But it’s important to know that you’ll feel some sensitivity in your mouth for up to a week after getting them. This may make it difficult to eat certain foods. 

You may want to eat especially soft foods in the first week after getting braces. Braces move your teeth with gradual pressure over an extended period of time. This can cause a bit of pain. But it does fade over time. 

Can you eat different foods with clear aligners vs. traditional braces?

Your diet will be less restricted with clear aligners compared to traditional braces. That’s because you can remove your aligners to protect them when eating. And this drastically increases your food options.

Even though you can eat most foods with clear aligners, there are still certain foods that you may want to avoid. Avoiding sugary and sticky foods will help prevent bad breath and tooth decay. 

You should also avoid some dark liquids that could stain your aligners, attachments, and teeth (like red wine, coffee and sodas). If you decide to keep these drinks in your diet, here are three rules to follow :

1. Remove your clear aligners while drinking.

2. Immediately rinse your mouth with water after drinking.

3. Brush and floss your teeth before putting your aligners back in.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Zack Youngblood, DMD

Zack Youngblood, DMD, is a dentist who strives to change the general look of dentistry. Before stepping into the clinical field, he authored multiple works that helped dental students and dentists find their unique path in dentistry.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts