Dr. Melissa Brown and her team are committed to providing patients with the best in orthodontic care. We are thrilled to offer our services through our Corning, New York and Mansfield, Pennsylvania offices. Dr. Brown is also proud to treat patients in the surrounding areas of Horseheads, New York and Elmira, New York. A major part of Dr. Melissa Brown’s comprehensive treatment is providing information for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment, such as foods to avoid.
Dr. Melissa Brown Provides Food Guidelines
When considering foods to avoid during orthodontic treatment there are a couple different categories of food that should not be eaten. These would include any food that is sticky or hard, and foods that are high in sugar content. Dr. Brown encourages you to avoid the listed foods below as they can damage your orthodontic appliances and impede your orthodontic progress.
Avoiding Sticky Foods
We strongly recommend that sticky foods be avoided as they can get caught between brackets and wires for patients that have traditional metal braces or ceramic braces. The following sticky foods should be avoided during orthodontic treatment:
- Gum (sugar-free or regular)
- Licorice
- Sugar Daddies
- Toffee
- Tootsie Rolls
- Caramels
- Starburst
- This list is not an all-inclusive list and you should use your discretion to avoid foods similar to these listed.
Hard Foods To Avoid During Orthodontic Treatment
Avoiding hard foods during orthodontic treatment is vital as it could potentially break or damage wires and brackets. The following foods should be avoided while wearing braces:
- Ice
- Nuts
- Hard taco shells
- French bread crust/rolls
- Corn on the cob
- Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
- Bagels
- Chips
- Jolly Ranchers/suckers
- Pizza crust
- Uncooked carrots (unless cut)
- This list is not an all-inclusive list and you should use your discretion to avoid foods similar to these listed.
Minimizing Sugary Foods
It is also recommended that while in traditional braces, patients minimize consumption of foods with high sugar content. This is because these foods cause tooth decay and lead to other dental and orthodontic problems. Please avoid eating and/or limit the amount of the following foods:
- Cake
- Ice Cream
- Cookies
- Pie
- Candy
- This list is not an all-inclusive list and you should use your discretion to avoid foods similar to these listed.
The following drinks should only be ingested one time maximum throughout the day when going through orthodontic treatment:
- Soda
- Sweetened tea
- Gatorade
- Kool-Aid
- Drinks with sugar
Patients’ orthodontic care is our main priority at Dr. Melissa Brown Orthodontics. We recommend that you avoid these foods as well as always checking that your brackets and wires are functioning properly and are not broken. Should one of your brackets or wires break or come loose, please contact one of our offices immediately.
Always remember to use good oral hygiene practices after each meal or snack in order to keep your gums and teeth healthy throughout orthodontic treatment.
Visit Our Corning, NY Or Mansfield, PA Office!
Dr. Brown and her team would like to thank you for visiting our website and taking the time to learn about which foods to avoid during treatment. We encourage you to look through the remainder of our website for more information on our practice and what sets us apart. Should you have any further questions, concerns or if you simply wish to book an appointment, do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to seeing you!