Foods to Avoid

Loose bands, broken wires, and detached brackets cause a LONGER treatment time.

Hard Pizza Crust, French bread, Hard Rolls, Bagels

• Hard crusts will bend wires

Pretzels, Tacos, Doritos, Crunchy Cheezies

• Hard pieces can bend wires and break off brackets

Caramel, Taffy, Jolly Ranchers, Fruit Roll Ups, Chewy Candies

(Fuzzy Peaches, Cherry Blasters, Sours)

• Sticky goo will pull off wires and brackets

Bubble Gum, Candy Coated Gum

• Sugary gum can pull off braces and get stuck in brackets and appliances (Bubblicious, Bubble Yum, Double Bubble, etc.)

Beef Jerky

• Tough on braces

Suckers, Hard candies

• Too hard and full of sugar

Nuts

• No nuts of any kind (chocolate bars, granola bars, squares, ice creams etc.)

Ribs, Chicken wings, Porkchops

• Remove the meat from the bone before eating

Raw or Hard Vegetables and Fruits

• Steamed vegetables are softer - cut harder fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces

Popcorn

• The little shells (husks) will get between the gum and bands and may cause an infection or swelling

Bad Habits

• Biting or chewing on ice, pens, pencils & nails will bend and break brackets, wires and appliances