The 10 Best Foods for New Braces
Clinical content |Last updated: July 26, 2016 in Braces
Published by Dr. Charles Gemmi
A Board Certified Orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, Dr. Charles Gemmi has been a practicing orthodontist with Orthodontics Limited since 2000 and is a member of the teaching staff at Einstein Medical Center. Orthodontics Limited is a Diamond+ Provider of Invisalign in Philadelphia and Hatboro, PA.
When you first get your braces on, you are probably going to experience some discomfort and soreness. It may take some time to get adjusted to your new braces, but even then, you might not be ready to jump back into your normal eating routine. Anything too hard or too crispy might be difficult for you to delve into for a few days. Here are ten of the best foods for new braces.
1. Yogurt
Looking for something to have for breakfast, but you aren’t quite ready for cereal or a breakfast burrito? Yogurt is a great alternative. It requires no chewing, which means that if your jaw and teeth are sore, you won’t even have to use them to eat this food. And because there are literally hundreds of different types of yogurt, you are sure to be able to find one that you enjoy. Just be sure to brush your teeth after eating yogurt, as it usually has a high sugar content and you want to protect the health of your teeth.
2. Mac and cheese
Especially if you can convince whoever is preparing it for you to boil the noodles for an extra minute so they are extremely soft, mac and cheese is a great choice for individuals wearing new braces. It requires some chewing, but the pasta will be soft enough that you will not really have to dig your teeth into it in order to chew it up enough to swallow. Again, there are lots of different types of mac and cheese, so you are sure to find one that you enjoy.
3. Chicken noodle soup
While this might have originally been reserved just for cold winter days or when you are sick, soup is the perfect food for new braces. The protein and vitamins and minerals in chicken noodle soup will help keep your healthy and increase the rate at which your mouth heals after having braces put on, and you do not have to worry about doing very much chewing in order to eat it. You can even soak bread or crackers in the broth long enough that they are extremely easy to eat, too.
4. Ice cream
The cold of ice cream makes it an ideal choice for new braces, as it will help to numb the pain and relieve some of the inflammation that comes along with wearing braces. Plus, as a bonus, getting to eat ice cream after getting your braces on is sort of like a reward. You did something that might be a little difficult and a little scary, but you also get to have ice cream! Like with the yogurt, it is important to remember to brush your teeth after eating ice cream, to prevent the sugar in the ice cream from hurting your teeth.
5. Mashed potatoes
If you are looking for something a little bit more substantial, but still soft enough to eat when your teeth and jaw are sore, mashed potatoes is the perfect food. Not only are they super simple to make, they can be made in several different ways, so you’ll never get bored. Add in a little cheese or some sour cream for extra flavor! When I first had my braces on, I probably ate mashed potatoes for three days straight until I moved on to eating more substantial foods.
6. Pancakes
Pancakes hit both of the criteria for new braces food: they are delicious and they are easy to eat. They are soft enough that you can easily eat them without having to worry even a little about how exacerbating the soreness in your jaw and teeth. For breakfast or dinner, pancakes are a great meal.
7. Bananas
Bananas are another favorite best foods for new braces. Because they are soft and easy to eat, you can pack one to go with your lunch, have one for breakfast, or eat them along with your dinners. If you are particularly sore, you might wait until they are fully ripe and very soft before eating one.
8. Fish
If you need some meat in your diet, but are not quite ready for beef, pork, or chicken, which can be a little difficult to chew if putting pressure on your teeth causes you any pain, fish is a great alternative. Whether baked, boiled, or fried, there are lots of different ways to prepare fish, and because it is naturally soft and flaky, you will have no trouble eating it, even if your jaw is still sore.
9. Cooked vegetables
Raw vegetables might be too hard to get your teeth into when you are wearing new braces, but there are lots of ways you can cook vegetables that will make them soft enough to eat. Boiling is a good option, as is baking. Your goal will be to get them as soft as possible. Veggies like carrots, broccoli, and zucchini will usually be too crisp when they are raw, but when boiled or baked in the oven, will be just soft enough that you can still enjoy them. Squash is another good option, as are steamed greens.
10. Scrambled eggs
More substantial as a breakfast than yogurt, but still soft enough to be comfortable to eat, scrambled eggs are one of the best foods for new braces. There are also ample possibilities for additions to your scrambled eggs. You could add cheese, onions, and peppers, for a quick, easy-to-eat breakfast!
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is beans classified as soft food for new braces
Yes! Beans are fine to eat with braces, the skin could get stuck in them, but would be easy to take out
Like hell kids will eat raw beans for lunch.
My son has loved beans since toddlerhood!
Well then there is something wrong with your kids
Hahaha
Can you have cold drinks when you have braces or can you have pain when you have it?
lmaooooo
Ahem, baked beans.
Can I eat pizza? Like will my brackets break? Can I also eat wings like wing stop?
Not immediately but even when you can(once the soreness is gone I would recommend you avoid the crust
Yes you can eat pizza, just make sure you cut it very small and take your time while eating
I got my braces yesterday and went to school straight after. We we’re having pizza for lunch so I tried to eat it. That was a very bad idea. I do not recommend eating anything harder than a soft slice of bread.
Cheese pizza is best if you wanna eat pizza
Ok Karen
Yes, you can but you will have to wait a few days. When my daughter got her braces she had to wait a day until she could eat soft solid food
You can eat pizza you just can’t eat the pizza crust. I would peel the chicken off the bone and then eat the wings.
Thank you very much for this useful information. I just got braces 2 days ago and needed some confirmation on what I can and cannot eat. I am glad to see some of my favorite foods on that list. Thanks again!
I also got braces awhile ago. My mom actually went out to get a few things that I could actually eat, but the first day she made a dish that has steak and noodles so, I had to just eat noodles.
Who asked
…
why do we have nasty food to eat
stfu
Does this apply to having just top braces on to
Yes, I would think so, because your teeth would probably hurt just as much and need soft foods. I have braces, and even if they were just on the top they would hurt enough to need soft foods. That’s just me, though.
It’s not about the hurting that you should not eat chewy sticky crunchy or hard foods it’s about what will happen when you eat them sure your teeth might hurt but also your wires will bend and the brackets will break off
And that’s coming from someone who has had braces
I’m just that gurl then, cuz I could eat chewy stuff and all that without my brackets falling off and stuff. But the first time I had mines like 3 of em came out but as time passed I did as I please lol, thts just me tho
hi
salutations
I just got braces today and I tried some of these food and it helps a lot. Thank you.
Samee after the first day it felt like my feeth were falling out
This is what I have to look forward to I guess
How long is the braces pain when u first get them on
usually only a couple days
that’s true and this is the second day and it hurts that I feel like if I didn’t have teeth’s
Mine take abt 3 days for them to stop hurting
Thank you for this! I have had upper braces for about six months, but I just got them tightened as well as lower braces, so my teeth are extremely sore and sensitive to pressure. Once again, thank you!!
I just got lower braces and this is the worst pain I have ever experienced this really helped me. Is there any thing to do for the pain that you recommend
I would recommend ibuprofen
ibuprofen is anti-inflammatory and can hinder the progress your braces make, causing you to need them for longer. it would be better to take tylenol or advil.
fyi…Advil is ibuprofen!
Advil IS ibuprofen, FYI – Ibuprofen is the generic name, Advil is a brand name.
Maybe a Motrin as well
Can I eat Chick-fil-A?
Yes lol just make sure to cut it up ??
Yes I prefer the grilled nuggets because they are so easy to eat with braces on.
Pizza is okay right?
Yes u can 🙂
You can after the soreness stops but, try to stay away from the crust because it is hard to chew and bad for your braces.
lol, we have the same name
Would a sandwich, such as peanut butter and jelly, be fine to eat.
Depends on the sandwich, but I would suggest not eating peanut butter as it’s sticky
When I had braces, I had trouble eating the pb&j for the first few days, because the pain was so bad. I couldn’t bite through the bread… i would not recommend due to the pain, but after a few days, you should be fine.
I just got mine and the first day after getting them put on (yesterday) I ate one just pull it off in small pieces at a time and wash it down with something like water and make sure to brush asap after u eat it.
what can i eat and can´t ?
I would definitely choose icecream if your braces hurt. it helped me alot.
thanks, getting braces soon and im scared for them. ortho says they don’t hurt but everyone ele i have asked has said otherwise. not excited but cant wait for my straight smile! the skin that connects my top lip to my mouth is to low so it needs to be removed and im terrified!
I just got braces today and there really sore,this website really help so now I know what I can eat and what I can’t. Thank you very much.?
I have had braces on for just over a year and a half, but I just got an adjustment yesterday and now have REALLY sore teeth. I’m home alone today so I was trying to figure out what I could make so that I wouldn’t starve and this website have me some great suggestions.
I got mine on two days ago, for breakfast I’ve been putting hot water on my Weet-Bix and milk with sugar so it tastes nice, for lunch I either do yogurt and avocado or even scrambled eggs. for dinner I have stuff like Mac n cheese, mashed potato and soups
Well, half of the things to eat after braces on here my daughter will not eat.s
She is on the autism spectrum and and is very picky and has sensory aversions to certain foods. She will not eat mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, or mac and cheese. She will though however eat ice cream and pancakes, and chicken soup or pastina. Please help on what other soft foods that she can eat. Thank you
Wow my daughter just got braces on and we don’t know any foods she can and can’t eat thank you
Whats a good meal (breakfast, lunch , and dinner) to eat when I just got braces, also while on a diet?
Hey I just got my braces yesterday I was wondering if I could eat fries and chicken
as long as you break it up and chew using your back teeth you should be fine
what else can I eat like dinner foods and stuff
I got them yesterday
Hi, can i still vape my juul. My mom doesn’t know and i don’t want to stain my teeth cos she’ll hit me if she drinking red wine.
Then I would stop! You will not stain your teeth if you stop and, your mom will not hit you.
Bruh, get off of that dang juul
this is working the only thing i eat is fish,steamed vegies and icecream. so this is great oh and i eat jell-o
i got mine last week and i have to eat soft food so i cant eat my sticky chew is it still bad for my braces if i freeze it??
Same
I love my Braces after Eating all the foods this says is good for braces I love mine