The beginning of orthodontic treatment with braces may be accompanied by tooth sensitivity and gum soreness. This can make it difficult to eat some of your favourite foods during this period. In this post, our Langley orthodontists share some foods to eat during your first week of orthodontic treatment with braces.
Soreness From Braces
When undergoing orthodontic treatment with braces, they will gradually align your teeth and jaw bones by exerting constant pressure. Although the pressure is relatively gentle, this can leave your gums feeling sore and your teeth more sensitive. Many patients experience this soreness in the first few weeks of getting braces, and sometimes, following an adjustment appointment.
The initial tenderness should only last about a week to two. However, during this period, it may be beneficial to switch up your diet. Below, our Langley orthodontists share some foods that can help prevent further discomfort for the first few weeks you have your braces.
Ideal Foods to Eat During Your First Week With Braces
Our team would highly recommend eating soft foods that don’t require a lot of chewing when you initially get braces. Here is a list of foods that should be safe to eat without worrying about your teeth or gum sensitivity and discomfort:
- Mashed Potatoes
- Oatmeal
- Eggs
- Smoothies
- Cold Drinks
- Yogurt
- Noodles & Pasta
- Soft Fruits
- Jello
- Soup
Foods to Avoid In the First Week When Wearing Braces
Throughout the treatment process with traditional braces, there are a variety of problematic foods. You should do your best to avoid any foods that are too hard or sticky foods. These foods can not only get stuck to your teeth, resulting in cavities (it is harder to effectively brush and floss your teeth when you have braces), but the metal brackets and wires that make up your braces can become damaged.
Some common crunchy foods and sticky foods to avoid during your treatment, include:
- Celery
- Carrot sticks
- Popcorn
- Hard pretzels
- Peanuts
- Gum
- Chips
- Crunchy fruits
- Nuts
- Hard or chewy candy - sticky candies and chewy foods in general
- Bagels
- Pizza crusts
- Ice cubes
- Taffy
- Chocolate with nuts or caramel
- Sugary food
If you're not sure if a certain food is safe to eat while you have braces, contact your orthodontist for confirmation.
In Conclusion
One of the best ways you can minimize your discomfort is by creating a diet consisting of liquid or soft foods until your teeth start to feel normal again. Remember that this discomfort will only last a few weeks (although, you may feel some discomfort following your adjustment appointments), so changing your diet for a week or two is a small sacrifice.
Some of the foods we mentioned that should be avoided may be fine to eat after your soreness subsides. However, some foods should be avoided throughout the duration of your orthodontic treatment. Consult your orthodontist for clarification.
At the end of the day, if you're able to take a disciplined approach to your treatment, you can prevent your treatment from taking longer than expected. You can be left with a straight, even smile in a timely manner.