When your teenager gets braces, he or she might be very excited about this event, and rightly so, but your teen might not be happy about what he or she can and cannot eat during this time. Eating right while wearing braces is important for several reasons, and here are several things you should understand about this.

The Reasons Eating Right Is Important

Eating the right types of foods and avoiding the wrong types is vital when wearing braces for several key reasons. Here are the top reasons:

Eating the wrong things can damage the parts of the braces

One key part of traditional braces is the brackets. Each tooth will have a bracket, and the brackets are what help move the teeth into proper alignment. If you eat the wrong things while wearing braces, you could damage the brackets, which could result in them coming loose or falling off.

Eating the wrong things can cause decay

When you wear braces, it will be harder to keep your teeth clean. Because of this, you must try to eat healthy foods and avoid unhealthy foods. If you eat too many foods that are unhealthy and cannot keep your teeth clean and free of debris, you could end up with a lot of cavities.

These are the two most important reasons to eat right while wearing braces.

Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid

Now that you understand the reasons you should eat right, here are some of the foods you should eat and some you should avoid.

Foods to Eat

There are so many great foods you can eat when you have braces, including most types of fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating yogurt, cereal, and oatmeal are also great foods. Additionally, eating foods with protein, such as eggs and chicken, are also great when you have braces.

Foods to Avoid

The types of foods that are bad for your teeth with braces are those that are loaded with sugar and foods that are too hard. This includes nuts, popcorn, granola, taffy, trail mix, and peanut butter. If you eat these foods, they can get trapped in your braces and can cause your brackets to fall off.

If your child is ready for braces, you should make sure he or she understands the importance of eating right. To learn more about this, talk to an orthodontist in your city, such as Donald E. Snyder Orthodontics, or schedule a visit with one today.