Donuts are a popular treat for many people and kids alike. However, people who wear braces and retainers have to give up on certain foods to encourage the healthy process of straightening the teeth, while also keeping their gums healthy. That’s why there is certain food you have to avoid to ensure your teeth stay healthy and that your braces don’t break, usually hard and sticky foods. Luckily, donuts are soft and you can freely enjoy eating them. Unfortunately, donuts are also quite sugary and sticky which can give you trouble while you wear braces. Continue reading to learn what kind of donuts you can eat with braces.
What Donuts Can You Eat with Braces?
Technically, you can eat all kinds of doughnuts– donuts, krapfen, donut holes, donut cakes, and more. However, you should eat them with more moderation than you’re perhaps used to. As mentioned earlier, donuts are sugary and also made with wheat flour which can create trouble in your teeth.
Being so sugary, the small pieces of sugar, caramel, and flour can get stuck between your teeth, wires, and brackets.
Even if you maintain proper oral hygiene, keep in mind that you will have to brush your teeth more frequently as well as floss, as small hidden pieces of food are harder to access when you’re wearing brackets.
During your monthly orthodontic treatments, you should talk to your doctor about different ways to floss your teeth and inform yourself about better teeth-brushing techniques. You should also ask your doctor to polish your teeth once in a while to ensure that no food is getting stuck.
Even though you are more than welcome to eat all kinds of donuts because they’re soft, especially right after your orthodontist tightened all the wires, it’s not recommended to eat powdered donuts. Powdered donuts, like their name suggests, are full of both normal and powdered sugar.
Powdered sugar, and sugar, in particular, can lead to quicker tooth decay and the formation of cavities and plaque which is more challenging to control while you’re wearing braces.
Tips for Eating Donuts With Braces
Above you saw that you can eat all kinds of donuts, but should eat them in moderation and even avoid the overly sugary options such as the powdered donut. Below are the tips that will help you eat donuts with ease and not worry about teeth damage.
- Eat donuts with frosting – Some doctors recommend that you should eat colder foods with braces, especially if you’ve gotten them tightened recently. Donuts with chocolate or vanilla frosting may still have enough sugar to cause your teeth to decay, but colder donuts will feel more relaxing on your gums.
- Brush and floss – If you had a donut or two, make sure to brush your teeth and floss if you are in a position to do so. If you’re in a public space, go to the closest toilet and floss your teeth. Avoid eating chewing gum, as that won’t help you in case some piece of chocolate or dough got stuck. You shouldn’t be chewing gum in the first place.
- Avoid overly sticky donuts – Donuts coated with chocolate, maple, honey or some other syrup are super-delicious, but they can make your teeth stick together and potentially damage the brackets and cause them to go loose.
- Take smaller bites – Eating with braces means that your teeth are more sensitive than they were before. Therefore, you should start taking smaller bites, especially if the donut is big. If you are at home, cut your donut into smaller slices. It may not be as satisfying as devouring a donut in your hand, but it still counts.
What Kind of Food You Should Avoid Eating With Braces?
Wearing braces makes it difficult for you to enjoy some of your favorite foods. Moreover, there are some meals that you should avoid making sure your brackets stay glued on your tooth, doing their work. The general rule of thumb is to avoid sugary, hard, and sticky foods. Below is the list of food you should avoid eating with braces:
- Pizza crust
- Chew gum
- Nuts
- Hard cookies and chocolate
- Crunchy food
- Cheetos
- Beef jerky
- Whole Apple (You can slice it instead)
- Hard pastries
- Chips and crisps
- Hard French fries
- Hard bagels
- Hard candies
- Whole corn
- Popcorn
- Cob
- Hard raw vegetables like carrots
What are the Best Foods for Braces to Eat?
Don’t worry, there are still foods that you can eat with braces, and some of them can also soothe your pain after tightening your braces.
- Pudding
- Ice cream
- Soft tacos
- Cheese puffs
- Soft pancakes
- Muffins
- Soft pretzels
- Waffles
- Pasta and sauce
- Eggs
- Banana
- Soup
- Brownies
- Soft cheese (not too sticky)
- Oatmeal (make sure it’s soaked and completely softened)
- Yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Soft-cooked chicken
- Soft vegetables
- Applesauce
Conclusion
Everyone who wears orthodontic appliances hates that they have to give up on certain foods that they enjoy. But that’s for their good. While some types of donuts should be avoided, or eaten in moderation, overall there’s nothing wrong with eating them, as long as you’re careful and take care of your oral hygiene. What’s your favorite donut?
FAQ:
1. What Candy Can You Eat With Braces?
You should avoid eating candy because it can damage the wires and brackets on your teeth. Hard candy is bad, unless you suck on it, while soft can glue onto your brackets and cause them to fall off.
2. What Junk Food Can I Eat With Braces?
Some people feel as if they’re sentenced to only freshly-cooked foods once they get braces. Luckily, there is some junk food that you can eat, as long as it doesn’t have too many crumbs, and isn’t too sticky or hard. You can eat burgers, softer French fries, waffles, pancakes, and more.
3. Can I Eat Pizza If I Just Got Braces?
Likely, you won’t feel like eating anything once you get your braces on. Pizza can be hard, especially the pizza crust that you should avoid eating. A bite of it can not only give you pain but also risk breaking one of the brackets.
4. What Happens if You Eat too Many Sweets with Braces?
If you eat too many sweets, you are risking the formation of plaque, tartar, and potential teeth and gum damage. Gum disease caused by sugary food can lead to receding gums, and make your teeth lose, ultimately leading to losing your teeth. Avoid eating too much sugary food while eating braces, and floss regularly.
