What food can damage your braces?
Here are some foods that can damage your braces:
- Hard foods: Hard foods, such as nuts, hard candy, ice cubes, and popcorn, can damage your braces by bending or breaking them.
- Sticky foods: Sticky foods, such as caramel, gum, and marshmallows, can stick to your braces and make them difficult to clean. This can lead to cavities and other dental problems.
- Acidic foods: Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits and juices, can damage the enamel on your teeth and make them more susceptible to cavities. This is especially important to consider if you have metal braces, which can corrode in the presence of acid.
- Chewy foods: Chewy foods, such as beef jerky and licorice, can put excessive pressure on your braces and damage them.
- Sugary foods: Sugary foods, such as candy, soda, and sugary cereals, can increase your risk of cavities. This is especially true if you have braces, which can trap food particles and bacteria against your teeth.
It's important to avoid these foods to protect your braces and your teeth. If you're not sure whether a food is safe to eat with braces, ask your orthodontist.