It is possible to realign and straighten your teeth with orthodontic braces. This makes your smile look better and makes it easier to keep your teeth clean.
But your braces will only work if you take good care of them. There are some foods you should stay away from to make sure you see results as quickly as possible.
Not only will eating the wrong foods hurt or make you uncomfortable, but you could also break the wires or brackets, which would mean you would have to make an emergency appointment with an orthodontist and add time to your treatment.
Additionally, if you keep eating foods that get stuck in your braces and foods that are high in sugar, this will make an environment where bacteria and plaque can grow and thrive, which could damage your teeth permanently.
Here is a list of foods you can eat and foods you should stay away from while you are getting treatment.
Crunchy, salty bacon is a beloved breakfast food for many. But is this tasty treat allowed when you have braces tightened on your teeth? Orthodontic appliances come with some dietary restrictions, so let’s explore how you can still enjoy bacon with braces.
Understanding Braces and Your Diet
Braces straighten teeth by applying gentle pressure over time. What you eat can impact treatment success and duration. Here’s why diet matters with braces:
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Hard, sticky, crunchy foods can damage brackets and wires leading to repairs.
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Food trapped around braces promotes plaque and tooth decay if not cleaned well.
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Sugary foods interact with bacteria to demineralize enamel around brackets
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Lengthy chewing may cause discomfort after adjustments as teeth shift.
Following your orthodontist’s diet suggestions can help keep your braces in good shape, improve your oral health, and possibly speed up your treatment.
Is Bacon Off Limits with Braces?
Traditional crispy bacon is not ideal for braces as it is quite hard and crunchy. However, you don’t have to eliminate it completely. With some preparation tweaks and careful eating, you can still enjoy bacon without sacrificing your orthodontic progress.
Tips for Enjoying Bacon with Braces
Here are some tips for safely savoring bacon while wearing braces
Choose Softer Bacon
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Opt for bacon cooked slightly underdone or “floppy” to reduce hardness and crunchy texture.
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Try boiling bacon briefly before pan-frying to soften further without losing flavor.
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Turkey or chicken bacon tends to be slightly softer in texture than pork bacon.
Cut Bacon into Small Pieces
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Cut each slice into 2-3 smaller pieces to minimize size.
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Smaller pieces are easier to chew slowly and cleanly around braces.
Avoid Hard, Crunchy Ends
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Trim very crunchy fatty ends before cooking for safety.
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Cut away any hard sections after cooking.
Chew Bacon Thoroughly and Carefully
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Take small bites of bacon rather than big mouthfuls.
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Chew slowly with your back teeth, avoiding your front brackets.
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Chew until bacon is fully softened before swallowing to prevent choking.
Clean Teeth and Braces Well After Eating
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Brush and floss after bacon to remove particles that could stick in braces.
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Pay extra attention to areas around brackets and under wires.
Limit Bacon Intake
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Stick to just 1-2 pieces of bacon a few times per week while wearing braces.
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Avoid excessive chewing and large amounts that could damage appliances.
Other Braces-Friendly Breakfast Ideas
While bacon can be part of a braces-friendly breakfast, feel free to mix things up with these alternatives:
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Smooth yogurt with fresh fruit mixed in.
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Oatmeal or cream of wheat cooked until very soft.
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Scrambled eggs or omelets with cheese and vegetables.
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Peanut butter or avocado on soft toast cut into small pieces.
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Breakfast burritos with refried beans, cheese, and soft veggies wrapped in a flour tortilla.
Should You Avoid Other Foods with Braces?
In addition to monitoring crunchy foods like bacon, here are some other items to consume sparingly or avoid while wearing braces:
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Very hard or sticky candies that could damage braces.
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Tough, chewy, and gummy candies that cling to orthodontics.
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Hard or crunchy raw vegetables and fruits like carrots, apples, or corn on the cob.
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Crunchy chips, pretzels, nuts, seeds, popcorn, crusty breads, and bagels.
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Sticky foods like gum, caramel, and chewy granola bars.
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Hard foods like ice cubes, nuts in their shells, and hard tacos that may break brackets.
Discuss any diet concerns with your orthodontist. With some small adjustments, you can still enjoy flavorful, satisfying meals.
Maintaining Excellent Oral Hygiene
To protect your braces investment and oral health, be sure to brush and floss thoroughly after eating. Use special tools as recommended by your orthodontist to clean between wires and around brackets. See them right away if anything breaks for repair.
Can Braces Correct Gapped Teeth?
As a bonus, braces are an effective treatment for closing gaps between teeth. Through customized application of pressure, orthodontics can shift teeth into ideal alignment, eliminating spaces. Braces gradually close gaps, transforming your smile.
Enjoy Bacon in Moderation with Braces
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It is possible to realign and straighten your teeth with orthodontic braces. This makes your smile look better and makes it easier to keep your teeth clean.
But your braces will only work if you take good care of them. There are some foods you should stay away from to make sure you see results as quickly as possible.
Not only will eating the wrong foods hurt or make you uncomfortable, but you could also break the wires or brackets, which would mean you would have to make an emergency appointment with an orthodontist and add time to your treatment.
Additionally, if you keep eating foods that get stuck in your braces and foods that are high in sugar, this will make an environment where bacteria and plaque can grow and thrive, which could damage your teeth permanently.
Here is a list of foods you can eat and foods you should stay away from while you are getting treatment.
Examples Of Foods That Are Safe For Braces
According to the diet and nutrition team at Proactive Health, “the best types of foods that you can eat when you have braces are the ones that do not have high concentrations of sugar, and do not require an excessive amount of chewing.” An example of breakfast foods includes yoghurt, eggs, soft bacon, oatmeal, or toast. Stay away from cereals such as crunchy granola.
For lunch, eat a soft fruit like a banana instead of an apple, or try salads that don’t have nuts in them. Sandwiches are also okay, but make sure you drink water after your meal to wash everything down. For snacks after school, you could give the kids baked tortillas with guacamole and salsa or fruit and string cheese.
For healthy dinner options, most vegetables are fine provided they are cooked and soft. You can pair your vegetables with lean proteins such as fish or chicken breast. If you do eat any desserts after dinner makes sure you brush your teeth immediately afterward.
According to the dessert specialists at Pearl’s Creations, “people with braces should avoid hard and sticky candies and desserts because they can damage your orthodontic work. Instead, opt for soft desserts like cakes, cupcakes, macarons, puddings, or soft candies that melt in the mouth. Because sugar may cause tooth decay, one should eat these desserts in moderation or if possible, choose sugar-free options.”
As your braces start to move your teeth around, your orthodontist will make small changes to them on a regular basis to speed up the process of alignment. You may feel some pain, sensitivity, and discomfort after each of these adjustments, which happen about every 5 to 8 weeks. This usually only lasts for a couple of days. However, it is best to stick to soft foods that don’t need much chewing during these times. Some examples include:
- Soup
- Mashed potatoes
- Pancakes
- Peas
- Cottage cheese
- Rice or pasta
- Jelly
- Ice cream
- Soft puddings
Braces Vs Chocolate Bacon & Jalapeños
FAQ
Can I eat bacon with braces on?
What meats can you eat with braces?
Are Oreos ok with braces?
Can I eat bacon with Invisalign?
Can I eat with braces?
Having braces doesn’t mean that you will be living on bland, pureed foods during your treatment. Knowing what foods you can and can’t eat with your braces will help you achieve the optimum results after your orthodontic treatment has been completed.
Can one eat bacon with diverticulosis?
You can eat bacon with diverticulosis, but it is not the most recommended. In a person with diverticulosis, it is recommended to consume foods with soluble fiber such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
Can you eat popcorn with braces?
Eating popcorn while wearing braces may be risky since kernels can get stuck in the braces’ wires. If you really must have popcorn, “hulless” popcorn is safer for people who wear braces. Can you eat chips with braces? If you eat hard chips like Doritos and taco shells, you might knock brackets and wires off.
Can you eat candy if you have braces?
However, eating candy, or anything with sugar, can be very destructive to your braces and possibly to the tooth’s surface as well. Candy can be broken into two groups: hard and sticky. Morsels of toffee will adhere to the brackets and bands, which can easily break them off.