Braces and Your Diet: What to Eat in the First Few Days

When you first get braces, your mouth may feel sore and sensitive. This is a common sensation during the initial adjustment period. To ensure comfort and promote healing, it's advisable to focus on a diet that consists primarily of soft foods that are easy to chew and won't irritate your gums.

Recommended Soft Foods to Eat

Dairy

Yogurt Milkshakes Cream cheese or ricotta

Fruits

Applesauce Mashed bananas Soft ripe fruits like peaches or berries

Vegetables

Mashed potatoes Cooked carrots softened Steamed vegetables like zucchini or spinach

Grains

Oatmeal or cream of wheat Soft bread (avoid crusty bread) Pasta cooked until soft

Proteins

Scrambled eggs Soft tofu Smooth peanut butter on soft bread

Soups

Broth-based soups Creamy soups like tomato or potato

Foods to Avoid

During this initial period, it's important to avoid foods that could irritate your gums or cause discomfort. Here are some items to steer clear of:

Hard foods like nuts and raw vegetables Chewy foods like gum and caramel Crunchy foods like chips and popcorn Sticky foods like taffy

Additional Tips

Follow these guidelines to make your transition to braces as comfortable as possible:

Stay Hydrated

Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated can help reduce mouth dryness and promote healing.

Cut Food into Small Pieces

Cutting your food into small pieces can help make the act of chewing easier and less painful.

Use Ice Packs

If your mouth is sore, applying ice packs can help reduce discomfort.

Following these guidelines can help make your transition to braces as comfortable as possible!

It's better to have soft foods initially. Stay away from gummy candies, hard foods, even raw carrots, nuts, gum, popcorn, and hard chocolate.

Here are some foods you should consider eating:

Hull-less popcorn

Yogurt

Bananas, grapes, oranges, strawberries and other fruits without pits

Light crackers or cookies

Cheese

Mashed potatoes

Peanut butter and jelly

Ravioli, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, and other noodle dishes

Dairy Products: Soft cheeses, pudding, yogurt, and smoothies.

Eggs: Scrambled eggs are especially soft and healthy.

Bread: Pancakes, soft tortillas, and muffins.

Grains: Pasta, oatmeal, and rice.

Meats: Soft cooked chicken, lunch meats, seafood, and meatballs.

What should you eat in the first week with braces? Be careful what you eat with braces! It's okay to eat as soon as you leave the office, but we highly suggest only eating softer foods the first few days while your mouth and teeth adjust. Stick to pasta, seedless bread, soft veggies, pudding, soup, yogurt, etc.

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