[Seongsu-dong Dental Clinic] What Foods Should You Eat During Orthodontic Treatment?

What foods should you eat during orthodontic treatment?

Hello, this is S (S) Leader Dental Hospital, located in Gwangjin-gu, Seongsu-dong Dental Clinic.

When you start orthodontic treatment, you often hear that your diet needs to change a little compared to before. Foods you used to eat without thinking can become uncomfortable because of braces, and in severe cases, they can even damage the appliance. That does not mean, however, that you must eat only careful, restricted meals.

The important thing is to choose the right foods during treatment so that unnecessary problems are reduced and your teeth and gums can stay healthy.

The early, uncomfortable stage of braces also requires some mealtime know-how

At the beginning of orthodontic treatment, your mouth may feel unfamiliar, and pressure on the teeth can cause pain or a foreign-body sensation. During this period, soft and easy-to-chew foods are much better than foods that are too hard or chewy. Examples include mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soups, well-cooked vegetables, and foods like porridge or oatmeal. If you want to eat meat, it helps to boil it thoroughly until soft or shred it into small pieces.

Foods that are too hot or too cold can temporarily cause pain, so it is best to eat them at a lukewarm temperature if possible.

Be careful with sticky or hard foods!

If you have braces attached to your teeth, food can easily get caught in the appliance, and it can be hard to clean thoroughly between the teeth, making cavities and gum disease more likely. In particular, sticky and highly adhesive foods such as caramel, jelly, and gum can stick between the appliance parts, easily causing bacterial growth, and they may even dislodge the appliance, so it is best to avoid them.

In addition, you should be careful with chewy and hard foods such as nuts, dried squid, and jerky. If the appliance is damaged by one mistake, the orthodontic schedule may be delayed, and the discomfort can last longer.

Hard fruits are a no, soft fruits are okay!

You also need to be careful when eating fruit. Hard fruits like apples and pears should not be bitten into whole; instead, cut them into small pieces like cubes so they are easier to chew and place less strain on the teeth and appliance. On the other hand, soft and juicy fruits like bananas, melons, and kiwis are good choices that can be enjoyed without much burden during orthodontic treatment.

After meals, be sure to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth, because if food debris remains in the corners of your mouth, the risk of cavities becomes much higher.

A balanced diet is also very important during orthodontic treatment.

If you only eat soft, carbohydrate-heavy foods because your mouth feels uncomfortable, your intake of protein, vitamins, and minerals may decrease. To maintain the bones and gums that support your teeth, as well as overall health, it is necessary to build a diet that includes a variety of nutrients in balanced amounts.

Soft foods such as tofu, eggs, salmon, and avocados are nutritious and are good choices that can be eaten without much difficulty during orthodontic treatment.

"Small habits make a big difference"

In the end, what you eat during orthodontic treatment is also directly connected to the efficiency of the treatment. The habit of carefully choosing and eating food means more than simply reducing discomfort. It is an important part of helping you smile with straight and healthy teeth when orthodontic treatment is finished.

Even if it is uncomfortable and unfamiliar at first, as time passes your body and mouth naturally adapt and become used to the new routine.

And those small efforts will come back as better results.

Seongsu-dong Dental Clinic :: S (S) Leader Dental Hospital