Getting braces can be an exciting time, but it also means making adjustments to your eating habits. With brackets and wires in your mouth, you’ll need to be careful about the types of foods you eat to avoid damage to your orthodontic appliance. So when can you indulge in a juicy burger after getting braces? Here’s what you need to know.
The First 24 Hours After Getting Braces
During the first day after getting braces, it’s best to stick to soft foods. Your teeth and jaws will be sore, and hard or crunchy foods could cause pain or damage to your new brackets. A burger won’t be the best option during this initial period. Stick to foods like:
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Pudding
- Cottage cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Smoothies
- Milkshakes
Give your mouth about 24 hours to adjust to the braces before attempting to eat any solid foods.
The First Week With Braces
During the first week, you’ll still want to take it easy on your teeth. Stick to soft foods that are easy to chew and swallow. Things like:
- Soft cooked vegetables like carrots, green beans, squash
- Soft fruits like bananas, mangos, peeled apples
- Meatloaf, fish
- Pasta, rice
- Bread rolls, buns
- Eggs
- Shredded cheese
A burger may be too hard and crunchy during this initial adjustment phase when your teeth are still very sensitive.
After The First Week
Once about a week has passed after getting your braces, you can start to add some more solid foods back into your diet. But you’ll still need to be cautious with foods that could damage your orthodontic appliance. Here are some tips for eating a burger with braces:
- Choose softer burger buns rather than hard rolls.
- Go for thinner beef patties that will be easier to bite into.
- Load up your burger with vegetables and condiments to soften the texture.
- Cut your burger into small pieces and chew slowly and carefully.
- Avoid extra hard or crunchy toppings like chips or crackers.
- Spread condiments like ketchup, mayo, or mustard on the burger to soften it up.
- Stay away from really gooey cheese toppings that could adhere to your braces.
- Use plastic utensils instead of metal to avoid nicking your wires.
With some adjustments and smart choices, you should be able to enjoy a burger within the first couple of weeks in braces. Just take your time eating and be cautious!
Foods to Avoid With Braces
Even once you’ve adjusted to your braces, there are still some foods you’ll want to avoid to protect your orthodontic appliance:
- Hard or crunchy foods like chips, nuts, hard candy
- Chewy or sticky foods like caramel, gum, taffy
- Popcorn
- Hard vegetables and fruits like apples, carrots
- Ice
- Sticky foods like pizza or loafs of bread
- Really hard meats or sausages
- Foods high in sugar
Things like burgers and sandwiches are often okay in moderation once you’re used to braces, but stay away from the foods above to avoid damage.
Tips for Eating a Burger With Braces
Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when eating a burger after you’ve gotten your braces:
- Cut the burger into smaller pieces to minimize chewing.
- Chew slowly using your back teeth and be careful not to bite into the burger.
- Avoid extra chewy or crispy toppings.
- Choose buns and patties that are softer.
- Use plastic utensils instead of metal.
- Rinse your mouth or brush gently after eating to clear away any food particles.
- Be extra careful for the first 2 weeks until your mouth adjusts.
- Remove any food stuck in your braces using dental picks or floss.
- Avoid sticky condiments like melted cheese.
When to Avoid Burgers With Braces
Although burgers are possible to eat in moderation with braces after the initial adjustment phase, there are times you may still want to avoid them:
- Right after getting your braces tightened – Your teeth will be extra sensitive.
- If you have sore spots or mouth injuries from your braces.
- Before an orthodontic appointment – To avoid having food stuck in your braces.
- If you have new rubber bands or appliances.
- When you’re out in public and unable to properly clean around your braces after eating.
Use discretion and listen to your mouth. Avoid burgers or other problem foods if your teeth are particularly sore or irritated at any point during treatment.
Invisalign and Burgers
If you choose Invisalign braces instead of traditional metal braces, the rules change a bit. Invisalign trays are removable, so you can simply take them out, eat a burger, and brush before putting your aligners back in. However, Invisalign will set limits on how long you should have your trays out each day. Leaving them out too long slows down treatment. Follow these guidelines for Invisalign:
- Have aligners out no more than 2 hours per day for eating.
- Rinse your mouth after eating before re-inserting your trays.
- Brush after eating each time you remove your Invisalign.
- Avoid really sticky or chewy foods that could stick to the trays.
- Carry a case to store your aligners while eating out.
With Invisalign, eating a burger is easier, but you still need to brush carefully before putting the trays back in your mouth.
Does Eating Burgers Affect Braces Treatment?
Eating a burger here and there during braces treatment is fine. But regularly eating really hard, sticky, or crunchy foods can:
- Damage your brackets or bend wires, prolonging treatment.
- Break or chip teeth.
- Pull off rubber bands or bands.
- Cause tooth decay from buildup of food particles around braces.
- Result in mouth cuts or injuries.
So while the occasional burger won’t derail your treatment, eating them regularly or consuming really hard foods could cause issues. Try to stick to the orthodontist’s recommended foods as much as possible.
Other Tips for Eating With Braces
Here are a few other things to keep in mind to eat safely and comfortably with braces:
- Take smaller bites of food.
- Chew thoroughly with your back teeth.
- Cut food into smaller pieces when needed.
- Avoid sticky, sugary, or acidic foods.
- Rinse with water or brush after eating each time.
- Be cautious for the first 1-2 weeks until your mouth adjusts.
- Remove food carefully using floss or an orthodontic brush.
- Avoid chewing ice, pens, fingernails or other hard objects.
Pay attention to what you eat and how you eat it, and you’ll be able to manage enjoying a burger and other foods you love in moderation.
When You’ll Be Able to Eat Burgers After Braces
Getting your braces off is an exciting milestone! Once your orthodontic treatment is complete, you’ll finally be able to enjoy all your favorite foods again without worry. Here’s when you can dig into burgers again post-braces:
- Immediately – Once your braces are removed, you can begin eating normally right away!
- Next meal – Celebrate with a burger if you like at your next meal after your braces come off.
- That day – Treat yourself to a juicy burger the evening your braces are removed to celebrate.
- Next day – Wait until the following day if your teeth are tender right after debonding.
Just be cautious the first day or two as your teeth may be sensitive. And start with soft foods initially to allow your mouth and teeth to adjust. But once your braces are off, the burger possibilities are endless!
Initial Bite Changes After Braces
When you first get your braces off, you’ll need to adjust to having normal bite function again. Here’s what you can expect:
- Your teeth may be tender and sensitive at first.
- You’ll need time to retrain your tongue and cheeks.
- Sticking to soft foods can help the adjustment period.
- Your bite may feel different or “off.”
- This period typically lasts 1-2 weeks.
Go slowly with the foods you eat after debonding to allow your mouth to get used to your new bite. But you can look forward to eating all your favorites again soon!
Foods to Eat After Braces Removal
Here are some good options for the first foods to eat after getting your braces off:
- Yogurt
- Pudding
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Pasta
- Eggs
- Soups
- Breads
- Fish
- Chicken
- Overcooked vegetables
- Fruit smoothies
Stick to soft, mild foods as you adjust to your new smile and bite. Then you can work your way back up to burgers and harder foods.
Reasons to Avoid Hard Foods After Braces
Although you don’t have to worry about damaging braces anymore, there are still some reasons to take it slow with harder foods at first post-treatment:
- Your teeth may be tender or sensitive.
- You’ll need time to adjust to your new bite.
- Hard foods could damage teeth or restorations.
- You may accidentally bite your cheek or tongue.
- Quickly returning to hard foods can shift your new bite.
Get clearance from your orthodontist before diving back into really hard or crunchy foods. Take a gradual approach to avoid problems.
Long-Term Care After Braces
Once you’ve completed orthodontic treatment, there are still some things you’ll need to do to keep your smile looking great:
- Wear retainers as directed to hold your teeth in position.
- See your orthodontist periodically for retention checks.
- Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing, flossing, and getting cleanings.
- Wear a mouthguard if playing sports to avoid trauma.
- See your dentist regularly to fix any issues early.
With proper long-term care after braces, you can enjoy all the foods you’ve missed out on. Just be cautious at first as you adjust to your new bite.
Life After Braces: Enjoying Burgers Again!
One of the best perks after braces is indulging in delicious burgers and other favorite foods again. Here’s what to expect when it comes to eating burgers post-treatment:
- You can eat burgers immediately after debonding if your teeth feel okay.
- Go slowly and cut burgers into pieces if teeth are tender.
- Focus on softer foods the first week as your bite adjusts.
- Avoid hard or sticky toppings at first.
- Brush carefully after eating to avoid food sticking in teeth.
- See your orthodontist right away if your bite feels off.
With some simple precautions, you’ll be back to enjoying juicy burgers and all your other favorite foods in no time after getting your braces removed! Freedom from dietary restrictions is one of the best parts of completing orthodontic treatment.
