3 Ways to Satisfy Your Cravings When You Want Food That Is Bad for Your Braces

27 January 2016
 Categories: Dentist, Articles


If you are new to wearing braces, you have probably been told that there are a lot of foods that you cannot eat. However, you may still have intense cravings for your favorite foods, even though you know they are bad for your braces. Below are three ways you can satisfy some of your cravings without damaging your braces' brackets and wires.

Tear the Meat Off of Your Chicken Legs and Wings

If you are wanting to tear into a fried chicken leg or chow down on some wings, resist the temptation. Both of these are filled with tendons and bones that could scrape against your teeth and dislodge your brackets or pull your wires out. 

Whenever you want to enjoy chicken, you have two options. First, you can tear the meat off of the bones, making sure you remove any tendons that could get stuck under your wires. Also, chop the meat up into small pieces so you do not have to chew as much, since the strings of the meat itself could also snag on the wires, especially when left long.

Another option is to purchase or order boneless varieties of chicken. However, even with these, you should cut them into tiny pieces, as the meat's muscle fibers are still present.

Opt for Nut Butters When You Want Peanuts or Almonds

When you want something containing crunchy, flavorful peanuts or almonds, refrain from biting into these small morsels. They require a lot of chewing, and the rough, hard texture could easily break off one of your brackets.

Whenever you feel the need to taste either peanuts or almonds, opt for creamy butters made from these nuts. Although they do not have the crunchiness, the butters are still packed with the flavor.

When eating nut butters, however, you must still be diligent in judging the sizes of the bites you take. Since it is thick and sticky, a large amount of peanut or almond butter could stick to the wires and possibly make them pop out of the brackets. For example, if you are enjoying peanut butter on a piece of toast, fold the sandwich so the butter is inside of the bread to minimize contact with your braces.

Have Your Pizza and Eat It Too

If pizza is a staple in your routine diet, you may worry that you have to take it out of your regular rotation for fear of the chewy crust that could become embedded in your braces, possibly pulling them out with every bite. However, if you take a few precautions, you can still enjoy this dish whenever the mood strikes.

When ordering a pizza from a restaurant or for delivery, ask them to make your pie with a thin crust. The thinner the bread, the less chewy it is. Also, some thin pizza crusts do not have the thick ring around the edge that can cause the most damage to braces.

However, if you are unable to get a thin crust or if you are cooking the pizza at home, you can still partake of it. When you put your piece of pizza on the plate, immediately cut off the thick, outer crust. Then, cut the rest of the piece into one-inch strips. Roll the strips to create a roll, and cut it in half. This will make the bites more manageable.

Eating the right foods while wearing braces can keep you from having to pop a wire back in or schedule an unexpected visit to your dentist. If you have more questions about what you can and cannot eat, you may want to speak to your dentist or orthodontist to find out what they recommend.


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