Getting braces is a rite of passage and dealing with the aftermath may mean some pain and it means some adaptation in your meal plan. Knowing what you can eat with braces is a great place to start! The days of being stuck on a diet of only ice cream and yogurt are long behind us, and a guideline list of what you can eat is the best first step forward after getting your braces for the first time.

Included in this guideline is a list of foods you can eat with braces!

Dairy

You probably don’t put much thought into dairy products regularly but they make an excellent choice for anyone who just had their braces put on or adjusted. Most cheeses are soft and you’ll be able to eat them with ease.

Puddings, yogurt, and cream cheese can all be easily consumed by anyone who has braces and who’s been wondering what I can eat with braces. While they’re not the most exciting types of foods, there’s a large variation in flavors and styles which make them more appealing for anyone who wants to mix them up.

Bread

Soft foods are key for anyone with braces in Central Jersey or anywhere else in the world and getting rid of bread can be difficult. There are lots of great bread options for anyone with braces though!

Soft tortillas rather than crunchy ones, pancakes, muffins without nuts, and other soft bread can be eaten when you have your braces. Skip the croutons but you can keep the white bread and soft French loaves if you so choose!

Meats

Woe to those who get their braces in summer when steaks, ribs, and roasted meats are in their glory! There’s still plenty you can have when you have your braces when it comes to meats and poultry starting with soft cooked chicken.

You can also have meatballs and lunch meats when you’ve got your braces on. Just be sure they’re soft meats rather than anything stringy or hard to chew.

Seafood

Much of the seafood we see today is naturally soft and easy to chew and digest. Tuna, salmon, and crab cakes are a great way to still enjoy your seafood while your braces are on. Sushi is a great option as well as you can eat rice and soft veggies in addition to the seafood included.

Vegetables and Fruits

To live a healthy life you want to be sure you’re consuming your fruits and veggies as well as meats and dairy! Mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, and cooked beans are some of the best veggies you can have when you’ve got braces in New Jersey. Skip raw veggies and stick to anything soft-cooked and is easy to chew.

Many fruits are easy to eat like applesauce, bananas, and fruit juice. An apple a day may keep the doctor away but skip the raw apples when you’ve got braces.

Treats

Pain with your braces deserves some nice sweet treats and there are some options on the table that won’t aggravate your braces or cause issues. Ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, and any soft cake and icing make for good sweet treats with your braces.

Tips and Tricks on How To Eat With Braces

Eating with your braces means avoiding some of your favorite foods but there’s some good form you need to use when you’re eating to limit the damage that any type of food might cause.

Cut Food Smaller

While you may be dying to dive right into a big sandwich or a piece of cake, cutting your food into smaller pieces is one of the best ways to care for yourself and your braces. These smaller pieces also help widen the foods you can eat throughout your time with braces.

Chew Cautiously

When you’re eating, it’s best to be aware of what you’re eating and how you’re chewing. By slowing down and chewing cautiously, you can determine exactly how your braces feel and if anything is causing you pain. Instead of just chewing without thought or regard, slowing down will give you the chance to evaluate how you feel.

Use Your Back Teeth

Even with soft foods, use your back teeth to chew. This can help eliminate sensitivity and keep the majority of debris going down your throat rather than lingering at the front of your mouth around your wires and other paraphernalia.

Brush

There’s no better remedy for eating anything than brushing afterward! By brushing your teeth after you’re done eating, no matter what you’re eating, you’ll clean a lot of it away. Flossing immediately after you brush will clean out the rest of the debris and you’ll keep your teeth healthy and your braces from hurting.

Be Strict

Keep your meals full of soft foods that are easy to chew. Avoid biting things that are harder or more solid like veggies and fruits that are raw or meats that are tougher. Anything sticky or pokey will cause issues so be strict with yourself when choosing your next meal plans.

Takeaway

Living with braces can be difficult but when you keep careful track of the types of foods you can eat with braces, it becomes a lot easier. Avoiding foods is simple but finding things you like that are soft enough for your braces can be hard. Sticking to things like cooked veggies, soft meats and cheeses, and sweet treats you can chew easily are the best ways to keep your braces from hurting.

Simple things like cutting smaller bites for your food and chewing cautiously help you monitor any pain or issues you be experiencing with your braces. Brushing your teeth immediately after you’re done eating will wash away some of the debris that may be lingering even after consuming soft foods.

Caring for your braces doesn’t have to be a chore and it doesn’t mean you need to cut out all of your favorite foods!