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Getting braces raises a lot of questions, and food is usually at the top of the list. The good news is that most people adapt quickly to eating with braces, and the restrictions are not as dramatic as they might initially seem. The guidance is really about protecting your appliances and your teeth throughout treatment so you get the best possible result.

At Liverpool Orthodontics, every new patient receives specific guidance on what to eat and what to avoid when they start treatment. This guide gives you the general picture. For advice specific to your appliance type, speak with your orthodontist at your next appointment.

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Why Food Restrictions Matter with Braces

Fixed braces (metal or ceramic brackets bonded to the teeth, connected by an archwire) are precision appliances with components that can be damaged or dislodged by certain foods. When a bracket comes off or an archwire bends, it typically means an unscheduled appointment, a delay to your treatment, and potentially some additional discomfort.

The food restrictions that apply to fixed braces are not arbitrary. They fall into three categories: foods that are physically hard enough to break or dislodge a bracket, foods that are sticky enough to pull brackets off teeth, and foods with high sugar content that sit against the teeth and increase the risk of decay around brackets. Understanding the reason behind each category makes the guidance much easier to follow consistently.

Foods to Eat Freely with Braces

The majority of a healthy, balanced diet is completely compatible with fixed braces. The following types of foods are generally safe:

Soft proteins

  • Eggs (scrambled, poached, or as an omelette)
  • Fish and seafood
  • Soft-cooked chicken or turkey (cut into small pieces)
  • Legumes (lentils, chickpeas, beans)
  • Soft tofu

Grains and starches

  • Cooked pasta and rice
  • Soft bread (without a very crusty exterior)
  • Cooked oatmeal and porridge
  • Soft wraps and tortillas
  • Cooked grains (quinoa, couscous)

Dairy and dairy alternatives

  • Yoghurt (regular or Greek)
  • Soft cheese
  • Milk and dairy-free milks
  • Smoothies

Soft fruit and cooked vegetables

  • Banana, melon, and berries
  • Cooked or steamed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, peas, pumpkin, sweet potato)
  • Avocado
  • Tinned or cooked fruit
  • Soft stone fruits cut away from the stone

Other safe options

  • Soups and broths
  • Mashed potato
  • Hummus and soft dips
  • Soft-boiled or baked foods that can be broken gently with a fork

Foods to Avoid with Fixed Braces

The following categories of food can damage or dislodge brackets, wires, and other components of a fixed brace appliance:

Hard foods

Hard foods can crack, bend, or dislodge brackets and archwires. Even foods that are not particularly hard overall can be problematic if they require biting with force.

  • Hard and crunchy snacks: raw carrots, raw celery stalks (unless cut into very small pieces), hard crackers, popcorn (particularly the unpopped kernels), corn chips, hard pretzels
  • Hard bread and pizza: crusty bread rolls and baguettes, pizza crust, hard bagels
  • Whole hard fruit and vegetables: apples, pears, and raw corn on the cob eaten directly. If you want to eat apples, slice or peel them first. Corn should be removed from the cob before eating
  • Hard confectionery: boiled lollies, hard mints, and other hard sweets that can crack brackets or bend wires if bitten
  • Nuts: nuts are dense and hard and can dislodge brackets if bitten. Nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter) are a safe alternative for nutrition, though sticky varieties should be rinsed away promptly

Sticky foods

Sticky foods adhere to brackets and wires, are difficult to remove, increase the risk of decay, and can pull brackets off teeth when eaten.

  • Chewing gum of any kind
  • Toffees, caramel, and hard-set caramel confectionery
  • Gummy lollies and fruit sticks
  • Chewy dried fruit (dates, apricots, mango strips)
  • Sticky muesli bars and cereal bars

High-sugar and acidic foods and drinks

These are not prohibited as such, but they carry a heightened risk of causing decay around the brackets if consumed frequently and not cleaned away promptly.

  • Fizzy soft drinks and sports drinks
  • Undiluted fruit juice in large quantities
  • Highly sugared sweets and chocolates

If you do consume any of these, cleaning your teeth carefully afterward significantly reduces the risk.

💡  How to eat apples and raw carrots with braces: You do not need to give up apples and carrots entirely, but you do need to change how you eat them. Slice apples into thin wedges and place them toward the back of the mouth rather than biting into the whole fruit. Carrots are fine if grated or cut into very small pieces, or steamed until soft. This approach lets you get the nutritional benefit without putting force through the front brackets.

The First Few Days: What to Eat When Everything Is Sore

The first few days after getting braces fitted, or after each adjustment appointment, are typically the most uncomfortable. The pressure on the teeth causes soreness that makes eating firm or textured food feel much harder than usual. This is completely normal and temporary.

For the first two to three days after fitting or adjustment, focus on:

  • Smoothies and milkshakes
  • Soup (not too hot)
  • Yoghurt and soft puddings
  • Mashed potato and mashed sweet potato
  • Scrambled eggs
  • Soft-cooked pasta
  • Banana and ripe avocado

Cold foods and drinks can provide some relief from soreness. Ice cream and cold yoghurt are both comforting choices in the first couple of days. Over-the-counter pain relief (following the standard dosing instructions) is appropriate for managing discomfort if needed. If discomfort is more severe or persists beyond a few days, contact Liverpool Orthodontics to discuss.

Caring for Your Braces Between Meals

What you eat matters, but so does how you clean your teeth after eating. Keeping the areas around your brackets and along the gum line clean throughout treatment protects your teeth from the risk of decay that is elevated when food can accumulate around appliances.

  • Brush your teeth after every meal and snack, not just morning and night
  • Use an orthodontic toothbrush or a soft toothbrush angled to clean around bracket bases
  • Use interdental brushes (proxybrushes) to clean between the bracket and archwire and between teeth where your regular toothbrush cannot reach
  • Floss daily using a floss threader or orthodontic floss to get under the archwire
  • See your general dentist every six months for routine cleaning and a check of your overall dental health throughout treatment

Your orthodontist and the team at Liverpool Orthodontics will give you detailed oral hygiene guidance specific to your appliance type at the start of your treatment.

Special Considerations for Clear Aligners

If you are wearing clear aligners (such as Invisalign) rather than fixed braces, the food restrictions are much less strict. Aligners are removed before eating and drinking (other than plain water), and then reinserted after cleaning your teeth. This means you can eat almost any food without concern about damaging the aligner. The key discipline is removing the aligner before eating and not forgetting to put it back in immediately after. Aligners need to be worn for 20 to 22 hours per day to stay on track. Learn more about the types of braces and aligners available at Liverpool Orthodontics.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink coffee or tea with braces?

Coffee and tea are not prohibited with fixed braces from a structural standpoint. However, both stain teeth and the elastic ties (ligatures) that hold the archwire to brackets can become stained by coffee and tea. If staining ligatures bother you aesthetically, your orthodontist can change them at your next adjustment appointment. Rinsing with water after coffee or tea and avoiding drinking them very slowly over extended periods reduces the staining effect. Hot drinks should not be consumed while wearing clear aligners, as heat warps the plastic.

Can I eat chocolate with braces?

Plain milk chocolate and dark chocolate that are soft and melt easily are generally fine with fixed braces. The chocolates to avoid are those with hard nuts, hard caramel, toffee centres, or crunchy elements inside, which can damage brackets. Very sticky caramel-filled chocolates should also be avoided. If in doubt, stick to smooth, soft chocolate varieties and eat them in small pieces.

What should I do if a bracket comes off?

Contact Liverpool Orthodontics as soon as possible if a bracket becomes dislodged. A bracket that has come off a tooth is not a dental emergency, but it does need to be repaired in a timely way so that it does not delay your treatment progress. Keep the dislodged bracket if you can find it and bring it to your appointment. Do not try to reattach it yourself. Call us on 02 9601 7655 to arrange a repair appointment.