Banpo-dong Dental Clinic Orthodontic Treatment: Food Intake Precautions (Foods to Absolutely Avoid vs. Recommended Foods)

Hello.

We are Blanche Dental Clinic, here to help you find your hidden smile.

For those who visit our clinic near Banpo-dong, there is one question they most often ask with concern during orthodontic consultations.

“Doctor, when I get braces, can’t I eat whatever I want?”

“Do people really lose weight on their own?

Can I really not chew anything?”

Orthodontic treatment is a long journey in which the appliance must be worn for as little as 6 months and as long as more than 2 years.

It is a process to achieve beautiful teeth alignment, but it is true that some restrictions on eating and drinking come with that period.

Especially on the day the appliance is first attached, or on the monthly treatment day when the wire is tightened, your teeth may ache so much that even drinking water can feel cautious, let alone eating.

But that does not mean you should starve or only eat porridge.

Eating the wrong foods can cause orthodontic appliances (brackets) to come off or wires to bend, which is a major reason the overall treatment period gets longer.

Today, we will go over in detail how to shorten orthodontic treatment time and eat wisely without pain, as well as the foods you should absolutely avoid and the foods that are recommended.

Why do you need to be careful about what you eat during orthodontic treatment? Orthodontic appliances are attached to the tooth surface with a special adhesive.

This adhesive can withstand enough force to move the teeth, but it can surprisingly come off easily under strong vertical impact or sticky pulling forces.

If the appliance comes off or the wire is bent, the following problems can occur.

Treatment period extension: for as long as the appliance is detached, tooth movement may stop or shift in an undesired direction.

Oral injuries: a protruding wire or a detached bracket can poke the inner lining of the mouth, causing sores or bleeding.

Additional cost and visits: it creates the inconvenience of having to visit the clinic again for an emergency.

Therefore, please remember that letting your guard down with thoughts like, “This should be fine, right?” can delay graduation from braces by several months.

Foods you should absolutely avoid during orthodontic treatment

For those who enjoy exploring popular restaurants around Banpo-dong, this may be a little sad news, but it is best to stay away from the foods below during orthodontic treatment.

First, hard and solid foods (the main cause of appliance damage) This is the most dangerous food group.

The moment you bite into them, there is a very high chance a bracket will pop off with a snap.

Ice: the habit of biting into ice on a hot summer day is devastating for people with braces.

Nuts: almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and the like are small and hard, so if they get stuck between appliances, they are difficult to remove and can cause the appliance to detach.

Candy and radish: biting down on hard candy, biting into whole cubed radish kimchi served at restaurants, or biting into hard fruits (whole apples, pears) with your front teeth is absolutely not allowed.

Second, sticky and clingy foods

They stick like gum between the teeth and the appliance, making brushing difficult, and trying to remove them may also pull the appliance off.

Caramel, jelly, and yeot (Korean taffy): if the sticky ingredients get into the gaps of the appliance, they are hard to remove even with brushing and can cause cavities.

Rice cakes: especially rice cakes such as injeolmi or glutinous rice cakes that stick closely to the teeth can bend the wire.

Gum: gum is absolutely forbidden during orthodontic treatment.

If gum gets tangled in the complex appliance, it becomes a major disaster requiring a visit to the dental clinic for removal.

Third, chewy foods (can trigger jaw joint pain)

Chewing dried squid, jerky fish, tough steak, ribs, and similar foods puts strong force on the jaw.

During orthodontic treatment, the roots are relatively weakened because the teeth are moving, so chewing tough foods can intensify tooth pain and strain the jaw joint.

Recommended foods when orthodontic pain is severe

For 3 to 4 days right after a monthly treatment visit, your teeth may feel slightly lifted and hurt even from light contact. At times like this, it is best to focus on soft, liquid foods to maintain nutrition.

Soft protein: dishes like tofu, steamed eggs, silken tofu, and fish flesh are good because you can mash them with your tongue without chewing.

Porridge and soup: dishes like abalone porridge, pumpkin porridge, and mushroom soup digest well and can fill you up comfortably without pain.

Dairy products and smoothies: yogurt, milk, banana smoothies, and the like have a cooling quality that can also help reduce the heat sensation in throbbing gums.

Noodle dishes: well-cooked kalguksu or udon noodles are easier to chew than rice. However, do not bite through them with your front teeth; cut them into small pieces with scissors and eat them with your back teeth.

Dental hygienist tips for eating You probably cannot give up the foods you want to eat entirely, right?

With a slight change in method, you can eat them safely.

The area where orthodontic appliances are most likely to come off is the front teeth. Get into the habit of cutting all food into small, bite-sized pieces and placing it toward the back teeth.

Meat, kimchi, cubed radish kimchi, cold noodles, and similar foods should definitely be cut into small pieces (?) and eaten that way if you want to protect your oral health.

During orthodontic treatment, food will get stuck between the appliances 100% of the time.

If you leave it there, tooth demineralization (white spots) or gum swelling will occur.

After meals, be sure to use an orthodontic toothbrush and interdental brush to carefully clean between the appliances and under the wire.

Using a water flosser is also a very good method.

What if a bracket comes off?

If a bracket comes off while you are eating and you hear a crunching sound, don’t panic.

If the appliance has completely come off, it is best not to throw it away and instead bring it with you.

Do not wait until your next appointment; report the situation to the dental clinic immediately and arrange a visit date.

If left unattended, tooth movement may stop or it may poke and hurt.

This time when you have to temporarily give up the pleasure of eating can sometimes feel tiring and difficult.

But after this period passes and the day comes when the appliance is removed, the neat and bright smile you face in the mirror will be sweeter than any delicacy in the world.

The process of becoming more beautiful—hang in there just a little longer!

This has been Gangnam Blanche Dental Clinic. Thank you.

Medical Law Compliance and Notice This post was written directly by Blanche Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing correct information for orthodontic patients. If the precautions during orthodontic treatment are not followed, problems such as appliance detachment, damage to the teeth and gums, and extended treatment time may occur. Please consult your attending medical professional for accurate care methods based on your individual oral condition.