Eating proper foods, minimizing sugar intake and getting enough sleep are essential during Orthodontic Treatment. Your braces are precise appliances that can be damaged by eating hard foods. Some soft and sticky foods can cause tooth decay and loosen or dislodge your braces.

Examples of what NOT to eat:

• 1. Hard candy

• 2. Corn chips

• 3. Popcorn

• 4. Jerky

• 5. Ice

• 6. Nuts

• 7. Pizza crust

• 8. Corn on the cob

• 9. Sticky candy (starbursts, sugar daddies, tootsie rolls, gummy bears, caramels, taffy and licorice

Whole fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots should be cooked or cut into small pieces.Avoid soda and drinks that contain sugar. Use common sense when choosing what to put into your mouth. Be careful to avoid chewing on hard objects such as pens and pencils.