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 be avoided.

Popcorn can get caught in your braces and can cause your gums to become swollen and infected.

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Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:

• Gum
• Licorice
• Sugar Daddies
• Toffee
• Tootsie Rolls
• Caramels
• Starburst
• Taffy

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Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:

• Ice
• Nuts
• Corn on the cob
• Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
• Chips
• Hard candy such as Jolly Ranchers

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Minimize Sugary Foods like:

• Candy
• Ice Cream