What to Eat and Avoid While Wearing Braces
Braces are a big step toward a straighter smile — but to keep your treatment on track, it’s important to avoid certain foods that can damage the brackets, wires, or slow down your progress.
Here’s a helpful guide for Canadian patients on what to avoid (and what’s safe!) when wearing braces.
⛔ Foods to Avoid Completely
These can bend wires, pop off brackets, or get stuck in your braces:
- Sticky foods: Gum, caramel, toffee, gummy candies
- Hard foods: Nuts, popcorn, hard candies, ice, raw carrots
- Chewy foods: Bagels, licorice, tough meat, crusty bread
- Crunchy snacks: Chips, pretzels, taco shells
🩺 Foods to Enjoy with Caution
These are OK if cut into small pieces or eaten carefully:
- Apples or pears (slice them first)
- Corn on the cob (cut off the kernels)
- Pizza crust (stick to soft crusts or eat with a knife and fork)
- Meat on the bone (remove meat first)
🥝 Best Braces-Friendly Foods
- Mashed potatoes
- Cooked vegetables
- Eggs and pasta
- Yogurt and smoothies
- Soups and soft fruits (like bananas)
✅ Why It Matters
Eating the wrong foods can:
- Delay your treatment progress
- Damage brackets or wires (which require repairs)
- Increase the risk of plaque buildup and tooth decay
Not sure what’s safe to eat with braces? Our team at McLevin Dental will guide you through braces-friendly meal tips so you can stay comfortable and on track to a beautiful smile.