This blog post & video (below) is all about what to eat when you have clear/fixed braces and my new (healthy) product discoveries too. This blog post is part three of my ‘teeth series’, part one was ‘How to Keep Your Teeth Healthy & White’ and part two was ‘What to eat after Wisdom Teeth Removal’.
[UPDATE] – Since originally writing this blog post & filming the video below I’ve had my braces removed (hurray!) and have written this blog post (complete with before and after pics) and have filmed [this video] to give you a summary of all of my top tips when it comes to fixed adult braces! I really hope you find them useful!
What to Expect Initially with Braces
The first few days were the toughest for me.. I couldn’t really talk properly or shut my mouth (i.e. put my lips together!) however this only lasted for a couple of weeks. My mouth was also a little sore to begin with, due to the brackets rubbing against my mouth, which meant Bonjela became my new best friend, as well as the ‘rubbers’ that my dentists gave me to put on the brackets to act as a shield! One of my top tips if your mouth is sore, is to stay away from mouth wash until it is fully healed .. I learnt this the hard way (ouch!).
What to Expect Long Term with Braces
As your mouth gets used to brace it will get easier, I promise!! The main thing you have to do is to keep your braces super clean as (trust me on this one) food gets stuck everywhere (!!). Brushing your teeth after food is essential and I use my electric tooth brush twice a day (after breakfast and before bed), and a manual tooth brush or interdental sticks after lunch, snacks and my evening meal to keep the rubbers around the brackets as clean/food free as possible. I carry a mini toothbrush/interdental sticks, toothpaste and mirror with me if I’m out and about (you get used to this I promise), just incase I eat!
Caution Foods & Drink
The followings foods & drink should be avoided/taken care with as they could bend/break the wires or damage your teeth:
- Toffees i.e. really sticky or chewy food, crusty bread e.g. pizza crust, popcorn (take care with this or the kernels could get stuck everywhere!!), whole apples (chop them first!), sugary/fizzy drinks (never good for teeth health!), whole nuts/seeds (take care with these!) and chewing gum. When it comes to porridge just give yourself enough time to clean your teeth properly afterwards.. those little oats get stuck everywhere!!
The following foods & drink should be avoided to prevent staining your teeth or the clear rubbers around the brackets:
- Orange squash (I had summer fruits instead), soups and curries with heavily pigmented spices including cumin and cayenne pepper (instead choose clearer soups such as chicken or vegetable) e.g. korma curries or Thai green curry, excessive tea and coffee; I’ve been drinking my hot drinks through a ‘hot straw’ & have been trying out Matcha Green Tea Powder instead – check out the video for full explanations! I’ve also stayed away from beetroot .. just because the colour scares me!!
What I’ve been Eating & Drinking .. & my New Product Discoveries!
For the first few weeks after my brace was fitted I enjoyed soft foods such as yoghurt with berries or banana, toast with peanut butter & banana, smoothies with kale or spinach for a nutrient boost, 100% fruit purees (ready made from the baby food aisle!) as I can no longer bite into hard fruits such as apples and pears, Muscle Mousse (YUM – use NIC5 for 5% off!), avocado & cray fish/salmon and hot chocolate (made with cocoa, sweetener and nut milk!).. as I’ve become more used to my braces I’ve gone back to pretty much everything I was eating before (except some of the ‘caution foods and drink’ listed above!).
I really hope you find this blog post useful.. what are your tips for eating and drinking with braces?!
*Samples of some of the items mentioned were supplied to me free of charge however any reviews are 100% honest and of my own opinion. I do not promote products mentioned more than others. This blog post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer page for more information, as well as for my over all view on protein powders/shakes.
Hi, Just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to write this post, I had my braces fitted yesterday and today am ready to ditch the whole thing – like you can’t close my mouth and am getting terrible sores where it’s (brackets) are rubbing and can’t chew a thing! Your post has given me the confidence to tough it out a bit longer!!!
Awww don’t worry I’ve been there!!!! Everything will be ok, just give it a week or two and ask your dentist (if he hasn’t already given you it) for a pack of this rubber stuff that you break off to stick on the brackets to stop them rubbing. I’m nearly 20 months in now.. they come off in Feb (hopefully) but it’s been 100% worth it. You just get used to them! Good luck xxx
Thank you for the detailed notes. I get ceramics installed in less than two weeks and am uber excited and nervous. I’ll be heading to the baby aisle soon.. and will remember to ask for the rubber bracket cover! Thank you!
Aw no problem!! Good luck.
Can I eat spinach and rice with spinach? How about yellow rice?
Yes but I would worry about the spices used in the yellow rice – I suppose it would depend on how much you ate of it!
It been almost a year since I have braces. And now I forgot… Oh my gosh seriously … I forgot to avoid soft drinks and now I think that I have a little bit of blackening of my braces. I’m scared to tell to my parents and the dentist and the next appointment is on 20th Feb
Good luck! Hope it’s not too bad.
Did people notice right away you had braces?
No because mine were clear brackets with a fine silver wire 🙂
Hi, thanks for this blog post – its really helpful.
Do you know if peppermint tea stains clear braces? I’m getting braces in the new year and I’m trying to prepare!
Hi Toby, it didn’t for me 🙂 Good luck!!