Braces can help children, teens, and adults create healthy, straight-toothed smiles. But wearing braces comes with a great deal of responsibility. For one, you have to take especially good care of your teeth and be mindful of what you eat. Although made sturdily, certain foods can damage the integrity of your braces and interrupt the straightening process.

The specialists at Lamont Jacobs Orthodontics have been providing the Fairfield, OH, community with superior orthodontic care since 1966. Their orthodontists recommend patients wearing braces avoid these four kinds of food:

• Sticky Foods: Sticky foods like candy with gooey chocolate or caramel, chewing gum, caramel apples, and taffy should be avoided while wearing braces. Orthodontists advise against these foods because the sticky, sugary residue can affix to the wires or brackets. The residue can become difficult to remove, and many patients damage the wire or brackets trying to clean off bits of candy.
• Hard Foods: Hard foods like ice cubes, taco shells, chips, pretzels, nuts, and popcorn are also advised against. These foods can break off brackets or cause the wire to become dislodged, both of which are very painful. Although an orthodontist can help repair broken parts of your braces, it is an additional expense that can be avoided.
• Chewy Foods: Meats, burgers, sandwiches, bagels, breads, and pizza should also be eaten with caution. Biting into these foods can damage portions of your braces, so it is advised you break them into smaller pieces and chew slowly.
• Raw Fruits & Vegetables: Raw produce, especially crunchier fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, and cucumbers, should also be eaten carefully. Never bite directly into these foods, and chop them into bite-sized pieces before eating.

The orthodontists at Lamont Jacobs Orthodontics specialize in adult braces, teen braces, and braces for kids. Their office has also specialized in the use of Invisalign® since 1999. To schedule a consultation or learn more about how to care for your braces, call (513) 823-3143 or visit them online today.