Problem Foods

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.

Forbidden Hard Foods:	Forbidden Soft Foods:
Hard Candy Corn Chips Popcorn Jerky Ice Nuts Pizza Crust Corn on the Cob	Gum (especially bubble gum) Sticky Candy (Starbursts, Sugar Daddies, Tootsie Rolls, Gummy Bears, Caramels and Taffy)

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