Getting braces is an exciting step toward straighter, better aligned teeth. However, the first days and weeks after getting braces can be challenging, especially when it comes to eating. If you’ve just gotten braces, you may be wondering: How long until I can eat normally again?
The First 24 Hours
During the first 24 hours after getting braces, you’ll want to stick to soft, gentle foods. Your teeth and jaws will likely be sore and tender as they adjust to the braces. Hard or crunchy foods could cause damage or pain during this initial adjustment period. Stick to foods like:
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Soup
- Smoothies
- Pudding
- Ice cream
- Oatmeal
- Mashed bananas
- Cottage cheese
You’ll also want to avoid very hot or very cold foods during the first 24 hours, as temperature extremes could irritate your mouth. Room temperature or slightly warm foods are best.
The First Week
During the first week after getting braces, you can gradually add more foods back into your diet. However, you’ll still need to be careful and avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods that could damage the braces. Recommended foods include:
- Pasta
- Rice
- Fish
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Well-cooked vegetables like green beans or carrots
- Fruit like bananas or melon
- Breads and muffins
- Cheese
You’ll want to avoid foods like:
- Hard pretzels
- Chips
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Sticky candies
- Chewing gum
- Hard or crunchy raw fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots or celery
This is because these foods could bend or break the wires in your braces. You’ll also still want to stay away from extremely hot or cold foods that could irritate your mouth.
After 1-2 Weeks
After the first 1-2 weeks, you can typically resume a more normal diet. Your mouth will be less sore and tender and should be adjusted to the braces. You’ll still need to avoid damaging foods, but you can add in more options like:
- Carefully cut meats
- Salads, as long as you cut food into bite-sized pieces
- Sandwiches without hard or crunchy ingredients
- Carefully peeled and cut fruit like oranges or melons
- Pizza, if you cut it into small pieces
- Burgers and hot dogs, if you avoid hard toppings
You’ll need to be extra careful when biting into and chewing these foods. Take small bites, chew slowly, and cut food into pieces before putting it in your mouth. But you should be able to manage most foods at this point as long as you have good brace-friendly habits.
The First Month
After about a month with braces, your teeth will be more settled in and you can try slightly harder foods. Options may include:
- Crackers
- Breads
- Pretzels
- Firm fruits and vegetables
- Pizza crust
- Popcorn
However, some orthodontists recommend waiting even longer than a month before eating harder foods, up to 2-3 months. This allows more time for your teeth to adjust to the braces before trying foods that could damage them. Check with your orthodontist to see when they recommend transitioning to harder foods.
Ongoing Diet
Once your teeth are settled in and adjusted to braces, you can generally return to a normal diet. However, there are still some foods you’ll need to avoid for the duration of your braces treatment to prevent damage. These include:
- Chewy, sticky, hard candies
- Gum
- Caramel
- Taffy
- Popcorn kernels
- Hard pretzels
- Ice cubes
- Hard nuts and seeds like almonds or sunflower seeds
- Hard or crunchy raw vegetables and fruits
You’ll need to be careful biting into foods like apples, carrots, or corn on the cob. Either avoid them or cut them into small pieces. Certain snacks like chips, beef jerky, and popcorn can be eaten as long as you break them into small pieces before chewing.
And continue to cut up sticky and chewy foods before eating them. For example, cut pizza, sandwiches, steak, and burgers into bite-sized portions. This makes them less likely to dislodge your braces.
Foods That Can Help
Some foods may even help when you have braces:
- Yogurt: Provides protein and probiotics for healthy gums.
- Milk: Helps provide calcium for strong teeth.
- Celery: Naturally abrasive texture can help rub away excess food particles.
- Apples: Crisp texture can help clean teeth (as long as peeled and cut into small pieces).
- Carrots: Chewing carrots produces saliva to neutralize mouth acid.
- Leafy greens: Help protect enamel and gums.
- Water: Helps rinse away food debris.
Crunchy vegetables and fruits should be cut up, but their crisp texture can help clean your teeth if they get stuck in braces. Chewy foods like caramels should be avoided, but chewing dairy foods like cheese can help produce beneficial saliva.
Foods to Avoid Completely
There are some foods you should avoid completely with braces:
- Hard candy
- Chewing gum
- Taffy
- Caramel
- Popcorn kernels
- Sticky food like gummy bears
- Hard chips like tortilla chips
- Hard pretzels
- Whole nuts and seeds
- Whole apples and other hard, raw fruits or vegetables
- Ice cubes
- Hard granola bars
Biting into these foods can damage or even break your braces. They can also get stuck in the wires and bands. Don’t put yourself at risk by consuming them. There are plenty of other great foods you can still enjoy in moderation.
Get the All Clear First
Always get the “all clear” from your orthodontist before moving to a new phase of eating. The typical timeline is:
- 1st 24 hours: Soft foods only
- 1st week: Mostly soft foods, starting to add more solid foods
- 1-2 weeks: Normal diet but with some precautions
- 1 month: Can try slightly harder foods in moderation
- 2-3 months: Normal diet but avoiding damaging foods
However, your orthodontist may provide a timeline specific to your unique treatment plan. Don’t try a new type of food until they say it’s okay. Attempting harder foods too soon increases your risk of damaging your braces.
Tips for Normal Eating with Braces
Here are some tips to keep in mind so you can eat normally while still protecting your braces:
- Always cut food into small pieces before eating.
- Avoid biting into food with your front teeth.
- Chew slowly and carefully, especially when trying new foods.
- Rinse with water after meals to clean your teeth.
- Ask your orthodontist when it’s safe to try new foods.
- Avoid hard, sticky, crunchy, and chewy foods.
- Cut harder foods like apples and carrots into small pieces.
- Choose healthy foods like yogurt, cheese, vegetables, and fruits.
With some extra care, you’ll be back to eating normally in no time. Just be gradual in adding different foods and always put brace safety first.
Food Prep Tips
These food preparation tips can make meals easier with braces:
- Cut pizza, sandwiches, burgers, and other items into bite-sized pieces.
- Steam vegetables until tender.
- Cut apples, carrots, celery and other firm fruits/veggies into small pieces.
- Avoid served cold hard vegetables, allow to come to room temperature.
- Cut meat into small pieces and chew carefully.
- Spread peanut butter thinly on soft bread.
- Stay away from kernels when eating popcorn or nuts.
- Avoid greasy foods that can cause discomfort.
Taking a little extra time to prepare food in brace-friendly ways will prevent damage and discomfort. This will help you keep eating the foods you enjoy throughout your treatment.
Be Careful Biting and Chewing
How you bite and chew with braces is just as important as what foods you eat. Keep these tips in mind:
- Take small bites of food.
- Chew slowly and carefully, especially with new foods.
- Chew mostly with your back teeth to avoid front braces.
- Don’t bite into whole fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, etc.
- Avoid using your teeth to tear off pieces of food.
- Cut food into bite-sized pieces before eating.
- Keep lips closed when chewing to avoid injury.
- Rinse with water after eating to clean braces.
Practicing good chewing habits will help keep your braces damage-free. Small bites, slow chewing, and using back teeth can prevent broken wires and brackets.
Conclusion
Adjusting to eating with braces takes time but gets easier. Stick to soft foods for the first 1-2 days. Gradually add more solid foods during the first week as soreness decreases. After 1-2 weeks you can eat a more normal diet but avoid damaging foods. Whole nuts, raw veggies, popcorn, and hard candies should be avoided completely. After 1 month, you can try slowly adding in harder foods if your orthodontist gives the all clear. Get their guidance before progressing to new foods. Overall, the timeline to normal eating is about:
- 1-2 days: Soft foods only
- 1 week: Mostly soft, some solid
- 1-2 weeks: More solid but be cautious
- 1+ months: Normal diet with some precautions
Eat bite-sized pieces, chew carefully, and rinse after eating. With some small adjustments, you’ll be back to enjoying a full diet in no time. Just be patient and let your mouth adjust at its own pace. Work closely with your orthodontist and follow their recommendations.
