Getting braces is an exciting time for many teens and pre-teens. After years of having crooked or misaligned teeth, you finally have the chance to get the beautiful, straight smile you’ve always wanted. However, once you get your braces on, you quickly learn that there are many foods you can no longer enjoy while wearing orthodontic appliances. One of the biggest question brace-wearers have is: can you eat chicken wings with braces?
The short answer is no, chicken wings and braces do not mix well. Chicken wings are one of the worst foods you can eat with braces. The combination of hard, crunchy bones and sticky meat can wreak havoc on your orthodontic hardware. Eating wings with braces almost guarantees you will deal with broken wires, loose brackets, and prolonged treatment time.
Why Are Chicken Wings a Problem with Braces?
So why exactly can’t you indulge in juicy buffalo wings when you have braces? There are a few reasons these tasty snacks are off the menu:
The Bones
Chicken wings contain small, thin bones that are difficult to chew around. When you bite into a wing, your teeth crash forcefully onto these hard bones. This can apply intense pressure to your braces that can break brackets or bend the wires. The bones also get stuck in the braces easily, which is very hard to remove.
The Skin
A chicken wing is coated in skin that gets very soft and sticky when cooked. As you bite into the wing, the skin can get caught in your braces like chewing gum. Small particles of skin can be difficult to clean out fully.
The Sauce
What good is a chicken wing without sauce? Wings are typically coated in thick, sticky, sweet and tangy sauces like barbecue, buffalo, or teriyaki. These sugary sauces stick to the brackets and bands on your teeth as you eat. The particles left behind can lead to plaque build-up and tooth decay around your braces.
Dangers of Eating Wings with Braces
It’s not just that wings are inconvenient to eat with braces. Munching on this crispy snack can actually cause some serious orthodontic damage. Here are some potential risks:
Broken Braces
The bones and skin of wings can bend or snap your orthodontic wires. The pressure of biting into the wings can also break off brackets. This can derail and extend treatment time.
Loose Bands
Elastic bands linking top and bottom teeth provide important pressure. They can easily get pulled off or damaged when eating sticky or hard foods like wings.
Broken Teeth
The hard wing bones can potentially crack or chip teeth with braces on them. Braces weaken tooth enamel.
Pain
Attempting to bite into chicken wings with braces will likely cause some pain or discomfort from all the damage they can inflict on your appliance.
Emergency Dental Visit
You may have to schedule an emergency visit to your orthodontist to repair any serious damage from trying to eat wings with braces. This will take time out of your day and usually costs more than a normal adjustment visit.
What Happens if You Do Eat Them?
Okay, so you couldn’t resist those aromatic buffalo wings in front of you. Before you indulge, be prepared for what will likely happen to your braces:
– Sauces and seasonings will get trapped in the brackets
– Small bones will get wedged into wires
– Brackets or bands may break or come loose
– Wires can bend or snap
– Your teeth may hurt from impact
– Rubbing or cutting of your inner lips/cheeks
After eating wings with braces, it’s important to properly clean your mouth and orthodontic hardware. But you’ll still likely need an emergency visit to your orthodontist to assess and repair any damage. Think twice before eating wings, because it will almost surely setback your braces progress.
Tips for Avoiding Chicken Wings with Braces
Here are some tips to help you avoid the temptation of sinking your braces into juicy chicken wings:
Avoid Wing Joints and Sports Bars
Steer clear of restaurants and hangouts where wings are front and center. Out of sight, out of mind.
Load Up On Healthier Snacks
Keep your kitchen stocked with braces-friendly snacks like apples, carrots baby food, bananas, yogurt, soft meats and soups. Bring them along so you aren’t stuck with wings as your only option.
Remove Yourself from Situation
If everyone else is chowing down on chicken wings, excuse yourself somewhere else to avoid temptation.
Explain Your Situation
Let friends and family know about your no-wings rule so they don’t offer them to you. Most people will understand.
Plan Ahead
Before going to a party or game where wings will be served, eat a full meal beforehand so you aren’t hungry when there.
Say You Have an Allergy
Use a little white lie and claim you are allergic to chicken wings if you are pressed to eat them. People will usually back off and not force you.
Best Foods to Eat With Braces
Just because you have to avoid chicken wings for a while, doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy tasty snacks and meals with braces. Here are some of the best foods to eat with braces:
Yogurt and Soft Cheese
Creamy, smooth Greek yogurt, custard, pudding, and soft cheeses are easy to eat and nourishing.
Soups
Warm soups like vegetable, tomato, chicken noodle, or butternut squash blend smoothly in the mouth. Just avoid chunks of hard veggies.
Protein Shakes
Make a meal replacement shake with yogurt, milk, bananas, peanut butter, and protein powder.
Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mashed spuds are a comforting braces-friendly food.
Pasta
Slurp up long noodles coated in marinara sauce with ease. Cut spaghetti to make it easier to manage.
Steamed Vegetables
Fresh green beans, broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower steam up soft.
Bananas and Applesauce
These fruit purees provide nutrients and sweetness without getting stuck.
Eggs
Scrambled, hard boiled, and omelet eggs are a great source of protein to eat with braces.
Cottage Cheese
The curds of cottage cheese squish softly together.
Braces-Friendly Chicken Recipes
Chicken doesn’t have to be totally off the table when you have braces. Try these wings-free recipes:
Chicken Salad
Combine shredded chicken, mayo, chopped grapes, and walnuts for an easy chicken salad. Enjoy between slices of soft bread or wrapped in a tortilla.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup is a comforting dish perfect for slurping while wearing braces. Use wide egg noodles that won’t get trapped.
Chicken and Rice
Whip up chicken breasts baked with rice and mushrooms for an meat and carb dish.
Chicken Chili
Cook up a pot of chicken chili blended smooth that you can drink down with a spoon.
Chicken Meatballs
Chicken meatballs baked in the oven and dunked in marinara sauce make for flavorful bite-size snacks.
Chicken Tacos
Diced chicken inside soft tortillas with avocado and cheese sauce is a braces favorite.
When Can You Eat Wings Again?
The good news is that your no-chicken-wing restriction with braces is only temporary! Once your orthodontic treatment is complete and your braces come off, you can go back to enjoying your favorite sticky, saucy chicken wings again.
Here’s when you can feast on wings again:
After Debracing
Once your braces are removed, your teeth will be in their final position. Your orthodontist determines when you are ready to get your braces off. This is usually anywhere from 1-3 years.
When You Get a Retainer
After braces, you will likely need to wear a retainer to hold teeth in position as they set. A permanent retainer behind the teeth or a removable plastic retainer are common options. After 6 months to a year of retention, your orthodontist may give you the green light to eat wings again!
Consult Your Orthodontist
Every patient and treatment plan is unique. Get advice from your orthodontist on exactly when they recommend you can resume your regular eating habits, like scarfing wings, after braces. Don’t rush back into eating hard, sticky foods until you get the okay.
The prospect of not eating wings and other favorite foods is daunting when you first get braces. But maintaining your orthodontic hardware and finishing treatment efficiently should be the priority. With orthodontic care and patience, the day when you can demolish a platter of chicken wings will come before you know it! Avoid the temptation now and enjoy the juicy rewards later.
Conclusion
Chicken wings and braces are a bad combination. Hard bones and sticky sauces can damage wires and brackets, requiring emergency repairs that extend treatment time. Avoiding wings while wearing braces prevents breaks, loose bands, and pain. Focus instead on nourishing soft foods like yogurt, soup, mashed potatoes, and pasta. Once your braces are removed by your orthodontist after successful treatment completion, you can get back to enjoying properly cooked chicken wings and other beloved snacks. With some patience and care now, wings and your dream smile are in your future.
