Foods to Avoid | McDaniel Orthodontics | Chattanooga, Cleveland, Jasper TN

For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided. Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid: Gum (sugar-free or regular) Licorice Sugar Daddies Toffee Tootsie Rolls Caramels Starburst Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid: Ice Nuts Hard taco shells French bread crust/rolls Corn on the cob Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces) Bagels Chips Jolly Ranchers Pizza crust Uncooked carrots (unless cut) Minimize Sugary Foods like: Cake Ice Cream Cookies Pie Candy Only Once a Day: Soda Sweetened tea Gatorade Kool-Aid Drinks with sugar It's important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office immediately to arrange an appointment for repair.