One of the best things about summertime is the food, but if you have braces, you may rightfully wonder whether you will be able to properly enjoy it. There are some foods that may be off-limits to you, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find something to love at a summer barbecue.
If you have a cookout coming up, here’s a guide to which summer foods you should indulge in, and which you should try and steer clear of.
Summer Foods That Are Dangerous for Braces
While it’s tempting to head to the nearest barbecue and dig into everything you can find, there are some things that you really ought to be careful around:
- Pretzels and Chips: As you’re probably well aware at this point, chips and other crunchy, starchy snacks can potentially pop a bracket.
- Tough Meats: Stringier meats can get lodged in your braces and become a major pain to clean.
- Corn on the Cob: This is the worst of both worlds—not only is the corn liable to get stuck in your braces, but biting into the cob itself can cause you to snap a wire or bracket.
- Popcorn: Popcorn itself isn’t that much of a problem, but the unpopped kernels that often remain in the bag absolutely can. Biting into one of these can wreak havoc on your dental work.
Summer Foods Perfect for Braces
That said, there are plenty of foods you should feel free to indulge in with your braces. For example:
- French Fries: If you’re missing salts and starches, french fries are soft enough to eat easily with braces.
- Brisket: While tougher meats can be a problem, tender brisket should be just fine for your dental work.
- Jello: Surprisingly refreshing on a hot day, Jello is soft and not as high in sugar as many other sweets.
- Deviled Eggs: They can be a little bit of work to put together, but deviled eggs are delicious and summery.
- Seedless Watermelon: While dark seeds could cause problems, you should still be able to eat seedless watermelon just fine.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the season. Your braces don’t have to stand in the way in the slightest!
About the Author
Dr. Marissa Mikolich has over a decade of experience straightening people’s teeth, and there’s still nothing that she loves more than being able to help people feel confident about their smiles. Dr. Mikolich received her dental degree from The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and got her Master of Science degree in oral biology at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry.
If you have any questions about braces, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (330) 967-4110.