Foods to Avoid

For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods, and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires causing a bracket to become dislodged. Minimize sugary foods as they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pen and pencil chewing, and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.

Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:

Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:

  • Jolly ranchers
  • Gum (sugar-free or regular)
  • Licorice
  • Beef jerky
  • Sugar Daddies
  • Toffee
  • Taffy
  • Tootsie Rolls
  • Caramels
  • Starburst
  • Skittles
  • Snickers
  • Fruit roll-ups
  • Chewy granola bars
  • Gummy bears/gummy worms

Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:

  • Ice
  • Nuts
  • Hard taco shells
  • French bread crust/rolls
  • Popcorn (hard kernels and hulls)
  • Corn on the cob
  • Apples (unless cut into small pieces)
  • Bagels
  • Chips
  • Pizza crust
  • Carrots (unless cut or cooked)
  • Life Savers
  • Peppermints
  • Jaw breaker candies
  • Suckers
  • Ribs/Chicken wings (meat can be taken off the bone)
  • Hard granola bars

Minimize Sugary Foods like:

  • Cake
  • Ice Cream
  • Cookies
  • Pie
  • Candy

Only Once a Day:

  • Soda
  • Sweetened tea
  • Gatorade
  • Kool-Aid
  • Drinks with sugar

Foods To Avoid