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What Are the Causes of Bracket Breakage During Ortho?

Many people have braces at some point in their life, but they often don't think about what activities and foods they should avoid during that one to five year period. Taking the necessary precautions while playing sports and steering clear of certain foods ensures a much smoother treatment and allows the braces to come off on time.

  1. Being Hit or Falling

    • Wear a mouth guard for all contact sports.

      Taking care of one's mouth is extremely important while playing sports, especially for someone who has braces. It's imperative to wear a mouth guard while playing sports, so bracket damage won't occur after a fall or after being hit by another player during the game. Not only can a damaged bracket cause discomfort, but it can also potentially damage a tooth.

    Eating Hard Foods

    • Stay away from nuts.

      While wearing braces, certain foods should be avoided, including some fruits and vegetables. One such fruit is an apple. Apples are hard and can break brackets if directly bitten into, so they should be cut into small pieces to avoid problems. Another example is corn on the cob; biting into the cob can damage brackets. Corn is acceptable to eat as long as the kernels are cut off the cob. Nuts, hard pretzels and tortilla chips also should be avoided because they are firm and can wreak havoc on the brackets.

    Sticky Candy

    • Steer clear of all sticky candies.

      Another food that should be passed over is sticky candy. Caramels, licorice and other sticky candies stick to and cover the brackets and as chewing increases, more pressure is put on the brackets, potentially pulling brackets off teeth or causing pieces of the bracket to break off. Bubblegum has the same qualities, which is why orthodontists say to avoid it.

    Crunching Ice

    • Never chew ice with braces.

      Many people have a habit of chewing ice. For people with braces, this is one habit that should be avoided at all times. Because ice is so hard, it can actually break the bracket right off a person's tooth. Even crushed ice, though much smaller than ice cubes, can cause damage to braces. It's advisable to steer clear of all forms of ice until the braces are off.

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