Having braces can make eating certain foods more difficult, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up all your favorites. Fried chicken tenders can absolutely still be enjoyed with braces if you take the right precautions.
Quick Overview
Yes, you can eat fried chicken tenders with braces as long as you follow these tips:
- Remove tenders from the bone before eating
- Cut tenders into smaller pieces
- Chew slowly and thoroughly with your back teeth
- Clean braces thoroughly after eating
- Avoid hard, crunchy coatings
- Be extra careful with rubber bands, wires, and loose brackets
While fried chicken can be eaten with braces, there are some risks to keep in mind. The batter can get stuck and be hard to remove. Seasonings may also irritate braces. Softer boneless tenders are lower risk. Overall, enjoying an occasional tender is okay, but they shouldn’t make up a large part of your diet with braces.
Can You Eat Fried Food with Braces?
You can eat most fried foods in moderation with braces if you take the right precautions. Fried chicken tenders are no exception. Here are some tips for eating fried foods with braces:
- Avoid greasy, oily fried foods as your regular go-to.
- Be extra careful with batters and breadings, as they can easily get stuck.
- Opt for fried foods that are thoroughly cooked and crispy but not rock hard.
- Remove any loose breading and bones before eating.
- Cut fried foods into smaller pieces to reduce risk of pulling on braces.
- Chew carefully and deliberately with your back molars.
- Clean your braces thoroughly after eating fried foods.
Occasionally enjoying your favorite fried foods is unlikely to damage your braces. But eating a lot of fried, greasy foods can increase your risk of cavities and gum disease. Moderation is key.
Are Chicken Tenders Okay to Eat with Braces?
Chicken tenders are generally safe to eat with braces. However, there are some precautions to take:
- Avoid tenders coated with a very hard, crunchy batter.
- Remove any tendons or bones before eating.
- Cut tenders into smaller bite-sized pieces.
- Chew slowly using your back teeth.
- Be careful of seasoning salts getting stuck in braces.
- Brush and floss after eating to remove any particles stuck in braces.
Boneless chicken tenders are safest, since there is no bone to avoid. Breading can also be an issue if it’s very crispy and crunchy. Your best bet is to choose tenders with a light breading and remove it before eating.
Boneless vs. Bone-In Chicken Tenders
Boneless chicken tenders are safer and easier to eat with braces. The lack of bones eliminates the risk of damaging braces and wires. Boneless tenders with softer breading are less likely to get stuck in brackets.
Bone-in tenders come attached to the rib portion of the chicken breast. Eating around bones takes more effort with braces. Bones can potentially pull out wires or bend metal. Any seasoned coating on bone-in tenders also gets in the crevices around bones.
If you want to eat bone-in tenders, it’s best to remove the meat from the bones first. You can also ask for an order of tenders without sauce or seasoning to reduce residue buildup.
Breaded vs. Unbreaded Chicken Tenders
Breaded chicken tenders are fine for braces as long as the coating isn’t too thick or crunchy. A thinner, crispier breading is ideal. Breading should be fully cooked through so it doesn’t get stuck.
Unbreaded or lightly breaded tenders are going to be the safest option. A simple flour or panko breading lessens the chances of food getting trapped by braces. If tenders are tossed in sauce, ask for it on the side.
If opting for breaded tenders, peel off excess breading before eating. Use caution when chewing to avoid pulling wires or brackets. Unbreaded tenders minimize risks but may lack the flavor and texture you want.
Tips for Eating Fried Chicken Tenders with Braces
Here are some top tips to eat fried chicken safely while wearing braces:
- Remove any bones or tendons before eating. Boneless tenders are ideal.
- Cut tenders into smaller, bite-sized pieces to minimize pulling.
- Use your molars to slowly chew pieces into smaller particles.
- Avoid crispy, crunchy breadings that could damage braces.
- Opt for sauces and seasonings on the side.
- Be extra careful with rubber bands, coils, and loose brackets.
- Thoroughly brush and floss after eating to remove particles.
- Stick to softer foods if experiencing soreness.
- Consider removing excess breading before eating.
Remove Bones and Tendons
Bones and tendons require extra chewing strength that can damage braces. Removing them eliminates this risk. For bone-in tenders, slide or cut the meat off the bone before eating. Tendons are thin but tough sinewy pieces, often near the ends.
Cut Into Smaller Pieces
Large pieces of chicken require more chewing force. This increases chances of wires or brackets being pulled out. Cut tenders into bite-sized pieces before eating. Start with pieces about 1/2-inch in size. Smaller pieces are safer and easier to eat.
Chew With Back Teeth
Using your front teeth to bite into food can cause trauma to braces. Always chew with your back molars instead. Chew thoroughly and slowly to break particles down into tiny pieces that won’t get stuck.
Avoid Thick, Hard Breadings
Some fried chicken tenders have a thick crunchy breading while others are more lightly breaded. Hard crunchy coatings can damage brackets and irritate your mouth. Look for tenders with softer and thinner breading to minimize risks.
Go Easy on Sauces and Seasonings
Heavy sauces and seasoned coatings on tenders can get stuck in braces. Ask for sauces like ranch or honey mustard on the side. Avoid tenders with seasoning salts. Or order plain tenders and add light sauce yourself.
Brush and Floss Afterwards
After eating tenders, thoroughly brush your teeth, braces, and around bracket areas. Use floss to remove any particles caught between wires or teeth. Be extremely gentle when flossing so as not to pull on wires.
Risks of Eating Fried Chicken Tenders with Braces
While you can eat fried tenders with braces, there are some risks to consider:
- Breading stuck in braces – Hard, crunchy breading often gets wedged into brackets.
- Injury from bones – Bones can damage brackets and bend wires.
- Pulling out brackets – Crispy pieces take more chewing strength, increasing risks.
- Irritation around braces – Fried batter and seasoning can irritate gums.
- Breakage of rubber bands/coils – Rubber pieces are at risk for snapping.
- Damage to loose brackets – Chewing may pop off already loose brackets.
- Increased plaque and tartar – Fried batter impacts cleaning effectiveness.
Proper precautions can minimize the chances of these issues. But if you experience frequent problems after eating tenders, you may want to avoid them while wearing braces.
Breading Stuck in Braces
Crunchy fried breading often gets wedged into brackets or under wires when eating. Breading stuck in braces increases irritation on your gums. If not fully removed, it can also increase plaque buildup.
Opt for lightly breaded or unbreaded tenders to make this less likely. Thoroughly rinse and brush your braces after eating to remove all particles.
Injury From Bones
Bone-in tenders come attached to a rib bone and cartilage. Biting into bone takes force and precision, which is harder with braces. Bones may damage brackets, pull out wires, and irritate your mouth.
Removing meat from the bone eliminates this risk. Opt for boneless tenders when possible. If eating bone-in, carefully remove meat before chewing.
Pulling Out Brackets
The crunchy texture of fried tenders requires vigorous chewing. This can potentially pull out brackets that aren’t firmly attached. Loose brackets are at highest risk. But tugging on wires can dislodge brackets as well.
Avoid very crispy tenders or cut into smaller pieces. If teeth are sore, stick to softer foods until your adjustment. See your orthodontist promptly if brackets pop out.
Irritation Around Braces
Spices, seasoning salts, and marinades on chicken tenders can get lodged around braces. In some cases, this causes redness or irritation near brackets and bands.
Opt for plain tenders or rinse seasoning off before eating. Make sure no salt, sauce, or breading is left stuck in braces afterward.
Foods to Eat Instead of Fried Chicken Tenders with Braces
If fried chicken tenders cause you problems, here are some safer foods to enjoy instead:
- Chicken salad – Use chopped boneless chicken with mayo on bread or a salad.
- Soup with chicken – Try chicken noodle soup or chicken tortilla.
- Shredded chicken – Make tacos, quesadillas, or wraps with shredded seasoned chicken breast.
- Yogurt with chicken – Mix chopped chicken with Greek yogurt for a protein dip.
- Steamed chicken – Plain steamed chicken breast is soft and easy to chew.
- Chicken stir fry – Cook bite-sized chicken pieces with tender vegetables.
- Pulled chicken – Shred seasoned roasted chicken to top sandwiches or salads.
Focus on soft, boneless chicken dishes. Steamed, roasted, or boiled chicken provides nutrition without crunchy breading. Combine it with tender vegetables and carbs like noodles, rice, and mashed potatoes.
FAQs About Eating Fried Chicken Tenders with Braces
Can you eat fried chicken with braces?
You can eat fried chicken in moderation with braces. Avoid thick, crunchy breading that’s likely to get stuck. Remove any bones first. Cut into small pieces and chew carefully with your back teeth. Rinse your mouth after eating to remove particles.
Do orthodontists recommend avoiding chicken wings and drumsticks?
Most orthodontists do recommend avoiding bone-in chicken like wings and drumsticks. Bones can damage brackets and bend wires in your braces. Meat clinging to bones also gets stuck easily. Stick to boneless tenders, nuggets, or chicken dishes without bones.
What happens if you eat hard foods with braces?
Hard foods like raw vegetables, nuts, popcorn, or hard candy can damage braces. They increase risks of breaking brackets, loosening wires, and even busting bands. Softer foods are always recommended. If eating something hard, take small bites and chew very thoroughly with molars.
Can braces break from eating chicken?
It’s unlikely that chicken itself will break your braces. However, bones can potentially bend or damage wires and brackets. Avoid bone-in chicken to reduce risks. Crunchy breaded coatings can also pull out loose brackets. Take care when chewing chicken with braces.
Can braces stain from eating saucy foods?
Yes, braces can stain from saucy foods with turmeric, tomato sauce, soy sauce, curry, etc. The spices cause discoloration of brackets and bands. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after eating sauce-heavy dishes. You may also want to opt for clear ceramic braces which resist staining.
Conclusion
While fried chicken tenders need some precautions, you can definitely still enjoy them in moderation with braces. Boneless tenders with softer breading are ideal. Cut into pieces, chew slowly, and clean braces carefully afterward. Prioritize soft foods if your teeth are sore. With some adjustments to your eating habits, braces don’t have to stop you from savoring occasional comfort foods like chicken tenders. Just be mindful of risks like bones, seasoning, and crunchy coatings when choosing tenders.
