We know this rule seems self-explanatory, but it is the most important. If the braces aren’t on your teeth, they aren’t doing their job of straightening them!

Some foods are harder on your braces than others. Please try to avoid:

• Hard Chips – For example, Tacos, Doritos, and Fritos (anything that comes in a cellophane bag and ends in “O”). Do not despair! You can have regular potato chips and, for those Mexican food lovers, you can have a soft shell taco or burrito (which are delicious).
• Popcorn – This delicious snack is not the best for your brackets, and can easily get stuck in them. It is very tough on braces.
• Nuts – Please stay away from nuts of any kind. Sorry peanut lovers!
• Pretzels/Ice – These are the two primary killers of brackets. We recommend keeping the lids on your soft drinks so you won’t be tempted to chew on the ice inside!
• Granola Bars – Unfortunately you need to stay away from both the crunchy and soft versions of granola bars. The crunchy bars are too hard, and the soft ones tend to be too sticky.
• Foreign Objects – This may seem self-explanatory, but please do not chew on pens, pencils, fingernails, etc.

It is imperative that you not chew gum while you have braces. This means gum of any kind (even the types that say they will not stick to dental work). The same goes for sticky candy such as caramels, and Now and Laters. If you MUST have a candy bar, have chocolate and brush well afterward.

This includes ripping off pizza bites, Cuban sandwiches, or apples. You also have to avoid carrots (a real heart breaker, we know), unless they are cooked.

Please do not eat food for three hours after your braces are applied. You are of course allowed to drink liquids.

Stick to soft foods for three days following the application of your braces. This will ensure that the brackets have the proper amount of time to bond to your teeth.

If you want them off in the shortest amount of time, you have to take care of them and keep them on your teeth!