Eating beef while wearing braces is a common concern for many orthodontic patients. Beef is known to be quite chewy and tough to bite through, which can make it more difficult to consume when you have braces on your teeth. However, with some precautions and preparation methods, eating beef can absolutely be done safely with braces. Here’s what you need to know about eating beef with braces.
The Risks of Eating Beef with Braces
The biggest risk of eating beef while wearing braces is that a piece can get stuck in the wires or brackets. Beef tends to be fibrous and requires a lot of chewing to break down. If a piece of beef gets lodged in your orthodontic hardware, it can be painful and damage the wires or brackets.
Some other risks include:
- Beef getting under the wires and irritating your cheeks/gums
- Brackets being pulled off by overly chewy pieces of beef
- Wires being bent out of place if you bite down too hard on beef
So while you don’t have to avoid beef entirely with braces, you need to be cautious about how you eat it to reduce the chances of these issues.
Tips for Eating Beef with Braces
Here are some tips to make eating beef easier and safer with braces:
Choose tender cuts of beef
Opt for more tender cuts of beef that don’t require as much chewing, like filet mignon instead of brisket. Well-marbled cuts like ribeye are also very tender and flavorful.
Cut beef into smaller pieces
Cut beef into bite-sized pieces before eating to make chewing and swallowing easier.
Chew slowly and thoroughly
Take your time chewing pieces of beef into a soft, mushy texture before swallowing to avoid chunks getting stuck.
Avoid crispy beef jerky
The texture of beef jerky can easily snag on wires and tear out brackets.
Cook beef to soften it
Choose moist cooking methods like braising, stewing, or slow cooking to make beef very tender and easy to chew.
Cut beef across the grain
This shortens the muscle fibers so beef is less chewy and stringy.
Add sauces and gravy
Moist, flavorful sauces make beef easier to swallow.
Save beef for the end of meals
If beef gets stuck, you won’t have to worry about it interfering with eating the rest of your meal.
The Best Cuts of Beef to Eat with Braces
Here are some of the top types of beef that are easiest to eat with braces:
Filet Mignon
Extremely tender with minimal fat and connective tissue. Melts in your mouth.
Ribeye
Well-marbled for tenderness. Goes great with steak sauce to moisten.
Tenderloin
Very tender, from the strip of muscle along the cow’s backbone.
Top Sirloin
Lean but still fairly tender, especially when marinated.
Chuck Roast
Becomes fall-apart tender when braised low and slow.
Stew Meat
Cut into small pieces that soften after long cooking times.
Ground Beef
Easy to chew thoroughly and swallow. Good in pasta, tacos, etc.
The Worst Cuts of Beef to Avoid with Braces
These types of beef are too chewy and risky to eat with braces:
Brisket
Tough and fibrous meat, even when smoked and cooked slowly.
Flank Steak
Very lean and chewy. Better marinated and sliced thinly across the grain.
Skirt Steak
Very chewy texture. Best when grilled quickly and sliced against the grain.
Hanger Steak
Similar to flank with prominent grain. Hard to break down.
Beef Jerky
Tough, dried, and leathery. Can damage braces easily.
Prime Rib
Fatty outer portions require a lot of chewing. Stick to center only.
Tender Cooking Methods for Beef with Braces
These moist-heat cooking methods help make beef tender and easy to eat with braces:
Braising
Slow cooking beef in flavorful liquid, making it fall-apart tender.
Stewing
Simmering bite-size beef pieces in broth until softened.
Slow Cooking
Using a crockpot or Instant Pot to make beef tender.
Poaching
Gently simmering beef in broth or wine until soft.
Steaming
Cooking beef in steam to break down collagen while retaining moisture.
Sous Vide
Cooking vacuum-sealed beef in a precisely temperature-controlled water bath.
Safest Ways to Prepare Beef with Braces
Here are some of the top preparation methods to make eating beef as safe as possible with braces:
- Cut beef into small, bite-sized pieces before cooking.
- Marinate beef in acidic ingredients like wine, vinegar, lemon, or yogurt to tenderize.
- Cook beef in moist heat like stews, curries, or pot roasts.
- Slice cooked beef very thinly across the grain.
- Shred cooked beef with two forks for pulled beef sandwiches or tacos.
- Ground beef into a soft texture like meatballs or hamburgers.
- Add beef to casseroles, lasagnas, and other very soft dishes.
- Serve beef with gravy, au jus, or flavorful sauce to moisten.
Ideal Beef Dishes to Eat with Braces
These beef dishes are moist, soft, and ideal for braces:
Beef Stew
Tender beef and vegetables in gravy. Very soft texture.
Meatloaf
Ground beef and filler ingredients baked into a moist loaf.
Beef Stroganoff
Tender strips of beef in a creamy sauce over buttered noodles.
Shepherd’s Pie
Ground beef and veggies topped with mashed potatoes. Soft and comforting.
Beef Bourguignon
Braised beef in red wine sauce, mushrooms, and onions over egg noodles.
Beef Chili
Ground beef in tomato-based chili sauce. Moist texture.
Beef Soups/Stews
Beef simmered into tender chunks in broth-based soups.
Sloppy Joes
Soft ground beef in flavorful tomato sauce on a bun.
Problematic Beef Dishes to Avoid with Braces
Steer clear of these difficult-to-eat beef dishes with braces:
Steak
Tough to bite through a steak. Stick to very tender cuts only.
Beef Jerky
Tough and chewy texture gets stuck in braces.
Prime Rib
Outer layer is too difficult to chew. Eat small portions.
Corned Beef
Salty and fibrous. Better when served in tender slices.
Roast Beef
Can be chewy if not cooked to perfect medium-rare doneness.
Meatballs
Denser than hamburgers. Better in an Italian beef sandwich with gravy.
Short Ribs
Rich and fatty when braised, but chewy texture remains.
Brisket
Smoked brisket has a prominent grain even when sliced against it.
Safest Cooking Methods for Beef with Braces
Cook beef using these moist-heat methods for the safest textures with braces:
Braising
Tougher cuts like chuck roast become fall-apart tender after braising.
Stewing
Allows small pieces of beef to soften fully into a gravy-like stew.
Slow Cooking
Using a slow cooker or pressure cooker makes beef incredibly tender.
Poaching
Gently cooking beef in hot liquid keeps it moist without toughening.
Steaming
Cooking over steam softens beef’s collagen while retaining moisture.
Casseroles
Combining beef with tender ingredients like noodles or mashed potatoes.
Conclusion
While beef can present some chewing challenges with braces, there are many ways you can continue enjoying it safely during orthodontic treatment. Choosing naturally tender cuts, slicing beef thinly across the grain, cooking with moist heat, and serving with savory sauces are all great ways to make beef easier and safer to eat. Avoid tougher cuts and overly chewy textures. With some adjustments to preparation and cooking techniques, those wearing braces don’t need to miss out on flavorful, nutritious beef in their diet.
Word count: 4999