You can eat many foods with braces. Choose foods that are soft or easy to chew, especially during the first few days. Cut firm foods into small pieces instead of biting into them. Avoid hard, sticky and very chewy foods that could loosen a bracket or bend a wire.
The team at Heinrichs Orthodontics will provide instructions based on your appliance. Those personal instructions should take priority over any general food list.
Quick list of foods you can eat with braces
The following foods are usually easier to manage:
Breakfast
- Scrambled or soft-boiled eggs.
- Oatmeal.
- Yogurt.
- Soft fruit.
- Smoothies without hard seeds.
- Pancakes.
- Soft toast cut into small pieces.
- Cottage cheese.
Lunch
- Soup.
- Soft sandwiches cut into smaller pieces.
- Pasta.
- Rice dishes.
- Soft wraps.
- Macaroni and cheese.
- Egg salad.
- Tuna salad.
Dinner
- Cooked vegetables.
- Soft fish.
- Tender chicken cut into small pieces.
- Ground meat.
- Mashed potatoes.
- Pasta.
- Rice.
- Stews.
- Casseroles.
Snacks
- Yogurt.
- Cheese.
- Bananas.
- Applesauce.
- Soft berries.
- Hummus.
- Soft muffins.
- Pudding.
A balanced diet remains important. Braces do not mean you must live on mashed food for the whole treatment.
What should you eat during the first few days with braces?
Teeth may feel tender after braces are placed or adjusted. Softer foods can make eating more comfortable.
Useful first-week options include:
- Smooth soups.
- Mashed potatoes.
- Eggs.
- Oatmeal.
- Yogurt.
- Pasta.
- Soft rice.
- Steamed vegetables.
- Soft fish.
- Smoothies.
- Applesauce.
- Cottage cheese.
Avoid foods that require forceful biting during this period. As tenderness decreases, you can gradually return to a broader range of braces-safe foods.
Our article on what to expect when you get braces explains other common early experiences.
What foods should you avoid with braces?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends avoiding hard, sticky, crunchy and chewy foods that may damage brackets or wires. Review the AAO braces food guide.
Hard foods
Hard foods can break brackets or bend wires.
Examples include:
- Hard candy.
- Ice.
- Whole nuts.
- Hard pretzels.
- Very hard crackers.
- Unpopped popcorn kernels.
- Hard pizza crust.
- Hard rolls.
Never chew ice, even if the pieces appear small.
Sticky foods
Sticky foods can pull on brackets and collect around appliances.
Examples include:
- Caramels.
- Toffee.
- Sticky candy.
- Chewy fruit snacks.
- Very sticky gum.
The advice about gum may depend on the appliance and product. Read Can You Chew Gum With Braces? and follow the orthodontist’s instructions.
Very chewy foods
Dense or chewy foods can place too much pressure on appliances.
Be cautious with:
- Bagels.
- Tough meat.
- Dense bread.
- Large chewy candies.
- Thick pizza crust.
- Very chewy granola bars.
Some of these foods may be manageable when softened or cut into small pieces. Others are best avoided.
Foods bitten with the front teeth
Healthy foods can still damage braces if you bite directly into them.
Do not bite into:
- Whole apples.
- Raw carrots.
- Corn on the cob.
- Large sandwiches.
- Large pieces of firm meat.
Prepare them differently instead.
How can you prepare common foods safely?
Apples
Cut an apple into thin slices or small pieces. Chew with the back teeth instead of biting into the whole apple.
Carrots
Cook carrots until softer or cut raw carrots into small, thin pieces.
Corn
Remove corn from the cob before eating it.
Pizza
Choose a softer crust. Cut the pizza into small pieces. Avoid biting or tearing a tough crust with the front teeth.
Sandwiches
Cut sandwiches into smaller sections. Avoid thick, hard or very crusty bread.
Meat
Remove meat from the bone. Cut it into bite-sized pieces. Choose tender meat rather than tough or chewy cuts.
The AAO notes that foods such as apples, sandwiches and pizza may be eaten when prepared in smaller, safer pieces. See the AAO patient FAQ.
Braces-friendly school lunch ideas
A school lunch should be easy to chew and simple to clean up after.
Possible combinations include:
Lunch idea one
- Soft turkey and cheese wrap.
- Banana.
- Yogurt.
- Water.
Lunch idea two
- Pasta salad.
- Soft berries.
- Cheese.
- Water.
Lunch idea three
- Egg salad sandwich on soft bread.
- Applesauce.
- Soft muffin.
- Water.
Lunch idea four
- Rice with tender chicken pieces.
- Cooked vegetables.
- Yogurt.
- Water.
Students should keep a small braces kit in their backpack when allowed.
It may contain:
- A travel toothbrush.
- Fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss or an interdental cleaner.
- Orthodontic wax.
- A small mirror.
- A water bottle.
More preparation advice is available in the braces-at-school guide.
What can adults take to work?
Adults may also need meals that are quick and braces-friendly.
Options include:
- Soup in an insulated container.
- Pasta with cooked vegetables.
- Rice bowls.
- Soft wraps.
- Tender fish.
- Egg dishes.
- Yogurt and soft fruit.
- Leftover casseroles.
Keep a toothbrush at work if possible. Rinsing with water after a meal is helpful when immediate brushing is not available, but it does not replace normal brushing and flossing.
Can you eat pizza with braces?
Yes, many patients can eat pizza with braces if the crust is not hard or overly chewy.
For safer eating:
- Cut it into small pieces.
- Avoid tearing it with the front teeth.
- Skip very hard crust.
- Check for food around brackets afterward.
- Brush when practical.
Can you eat popcorn with braces?
Popcorn is commonly placed on the avoid list. Kernels and hard pieces can become trapped or damage an appliance.
Choose a softer snack instead. Yogurt, cheese, soft fruit or a soft muffin may be easier options.
Can you eat chips with braces?
Very hard or crunchy chips may damage brackets. Thin chips can also break into sharp pieces and become trapped around wires.
Ask the orthodontic team about the specific food. A soft alternative is usually safer.
Can you drink coffee or soft drinks with braces?
Coffee, tea and soft drinks do not usually break brackets, but they create other concerns.
Sugary and acidic drinks can increase the risk of tooth decay or enamel changes. Coffee and tea may also stain teeth, elastic ties or material around clear braces.
Helpful habits include:
- Limit sugary drinks.
- Choose water regularly.
- Do not sip sweet drinks throughout the day.
- Rinse with water afterwards.
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste.
- Follow the cleaning advice from your dental providers.
Patients wearing clear ceramic braces should ask how strongly coloured drinks may affect the appearance of elastic ties.
How should you clean your teeth after eating?
Food can collect around brackets, underneath wires and between teeth.
A good routine includes:
- Rinse with water after eating.
- Brush carefully around every bracket.
- Clean above and below the wire.
- Clean between the teeth daily.
- Use any special tools recommended by the orthodontic team.
- Continue regular dental visits.
The American Dental Association recommends brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between teeth every day. Read the ADA oral-hygiene guidance.
For appliance-specific instructions, read How to Clean and Care for Your Braces.
What should you do if food damages your braces?
Stop eating and inspect the area without pulling on the appliance.
Then:
- Check whether a bracket is loose.
- Notice whether a wire is bent or poking.
- Use orthodontic wax for temporary comfort if previously instructed.
- Avoid more hard or sticky food.
- Contact the orthodontic office.
- Follow the team’s directions.
Do not attempt to glue a bracket back onto the tooth.
A damaged bracket does not always require an immediate visit, but the orthodontic team should make that decision.
Choosing between metal and clear braces
Food precautions are generally similar for fixed metal and ceramic braces. Both use brackets and wires that can be damaged by hard or sticky foods.
Patients comparing options can explore:
The right option depends on treatment needs, lifestyle and the orthodontist’s assessment.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I eat immediately after getting braces?
Yes, but the teeth may feel tender. Choose soft foods and avoid forceful biting until eating feels more comfortable.
Can I eat apples with braces?
Yes. Slice apples into small, thin pieces instead of biting into a whole apple.
What snacks are safe for braces?
Yogurt, cheese, bananas, applesauce, soft berries, hummus and soft muffins are common options.
Can I eat chocolate with braces?
Plain chocolate that melts easily may be manageable. Avoid chocolate containing hard nuts, caramel or very sticky fillings.
Can I eat sandwiches with braces?
Yes. Use soft bread and cut the sandwich into smaller sections.
What happens if food gets stuck in my braces?
Rinse, brush and use the interdental cleaning method recommended by your dental team. Contact the office if something remains trapped or an appliance is damaged.
Are the food rules the same for clear braces?
The rules for avoiding appliance damage are similar. Clear elastic ties may also be affected by strongly coloured foods and drinks.
