Although there are many factors that determine how long you have to wear braces (case difficulty, rate of tooth movement through bone, etc.) the most frequent complication that prolongs orthodontic treatment is loose or broken brackets and wires. Most patients progress through treatment with only one or two broken brackets. Unfortunately a loose bracket or broken wire that goes unnoticed or ignored can actually delay treatment for up to 6 months. Inspecting your braces after every meal and notifying our staff of any broken appliances will keep you on time to finish your treatment.

Hard, crunchy, crusty, or sticky foods
Are most frequently responsible for breaking appliances; however, improper brushing techniques or oral habits like biting on pens, pencils, sewing needles, etc may also result in appliance breakage.

Foods to Avoid While You Have Braces
In addition to the following list of foods to avoid when you have braces, please be aware that you must eat foods differently when you have braces. Instead of biting into sandwiches, apples, carrots, or pizza with your front teeth, you must train yourself to cut or tear your food apart and place it onto your back teeth for chewing.

The following list is not all-inclusive. If you’re not sure whether or not you should eat a particular food, use common sense or call/email us.

The List of Foods to Avoid: