3 Foods to Avoid if You Have Custom Metal Braces

Getting braces may be a more common experience than you'd think. According to Humana, a health insurance provider, more than 4 million Americans wear braces, with around 25% of them being adults. Still, many individuals are hesitant to get braces for various reasons. One reason is that they may be afraid they won't be able to eat their favorite foods anymore. If you're wondering what foods you can or can't eat, we have the answers. Keep reading to see three foods to avoid if you have custom metal braces.

1. Candy

Surely, it's no surprise that candy can be a problematic food to enjoy when you have custom metal braces. Candy is generally harmful to teeth, especially when the teeth aren't cared for properly. However, specific candy can be especially dangerous to metal braces. Make sure to avoid sticky candy, hard candy, chewing gum, and other chewy candy. These can stick to the braces and pull on the wires and brackets. They can then break the braces, move them out of alignment, or cause aching.

2. Ice

Similarly to hard candy, ice can be crunchy and cause damage to your metal braces. While the extreme cold isn't an issue, the crunch is. The crunch can damage the brackets or bend the wires. Either of which can be extremely painful and result in an emergency visit to the dentist. Your cosmetic dentist won't hesitate to advise against chewing or eating ice.

3. Nuts or Seeds

These are another hard snack you'll need to avoid. Not only are they hard, but they're also small. This is a dangerous combo, and it'll make your experience with braces much more complicated. Biting on a seed or nut can break a bracket or band. If the seed or nut is small enough, it can get caught in a small place and bend the wires or irritate your gums. Opt for nut spreads instead and you'll be much happier with the results.

Do you live in Phoenixville, PA or a surrounding area and need custom metal braces to get the smile you want? We can work on everything from braces to retainers. Contact Becker Orthodontics today to make an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you.