When braces are first applied to your teeth by your North Vancouver orthodontist, you can expect some discomfort as your teeth are shifting. Foods that you once enjoyed such as granola, popcorn or crunchy snacks should be avoided when wearing braces as they can bend wires and pop off brackets. Other foods such as hard candy, beef jerky and hard vegetables such as raw carrots consistently cause problems for patients wearing braces. Damaging your braces or causing gum problems will slow down the treatment process and therefore, can delay getting your braces off.rnrnThere are plenty of soft foods and snacks that can be enjoyed as your smile is being adjusted. Below are some tasty and nutritious options for snacks and meals while you are receiving orthodontic treatment.rnrn- Smoothies made with fruit or vegetables rn- Macaroni and cheesern- Yogurt and cottage cheesern- Pasta like ravioli or stuffed cannelloni rn- Soft cooked Chicken, turkey, meatballs, tuna or salmonrn- Eggs, scrambled, hard boiled or poachedrn- Bananas, peaches, applesaucern- Soft vegetables like avocadorn- Soft cooked rice or beansrn- Mashed potatoes, soup, soft-bread sandwichesrn- Ice cream, jello and puddingrnrnEating with braces can be challenging at first, but you will find that as you adjust to wearing your braces, you will soon become more adept at biting and chewing your food. You will probably find that biting from the side, rather than front biting, will be easier when wearing braces. This will prevent you from getting foods stuck in the front of your brackets. Learning to bite and chew more slowly, so that you donÂÂÂÂ’t accidently bite down on something hard, will prevent any mishaps while eating. Sticking to softer foods and avoiding chewy items or hard foods, will make eating and mealtimes a lot easier.rnrnDr. Bryan Hicks is here to help during your orthodontic treatment. If eating or your braces have caused you any discomfort, donÂÂÂÂ’t hesitate to contact us at our offices in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Squamish and Burnaby.
