Foods to Avoid

For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should also be avoided.

Please inform us of any of the following things you may be eating or doing so that we can help solve this problem.

  • Gum (sugar-free or regular)
  • Licorice
  • Sugar Daddies
  • Toffee
  • Tootsie Rolls
  • Caramels
  • Starburst
  • Now & Laters
  • Jaw Breakers
  • Ice
  • Nuts
  • Popcorn
  • Chicken bones
  • Hard taco shells
  • French bread crust/rolls
  • Corn on the cob
  • Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Bagels
  • Chips
  • Doritos
  • Jolly Ranchers
  • Pizza crust
  • Slim Jims
  • Uncooked carrots (unless cut)
  • Cake
  • Ice Cream
  • Cookies
  • Pie
  • Candy
  • Candy Canes
  • Soda
  • Sweetened tea
  • Gatorade
  • Kool-Aid
  • Drinks with sugar

It’s important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office immediately to arrange an appointment for repair.

Why Are Broken Braces Bad?

  1. Treatment takes longer.
  2. Broken braces give Dr. Dean gray hair.
  3. Your treatment will take longer, giving you gray hair.
  4. All of the Above.