Related Articles
Can You Eat Chips with Braces? Who doesn’t enjoy crunchy potato chips as a snack? Many Americans reach for chips while watching a game or as a savory side with their lunch. If you have braces, there are still plenty of chips options you can enjoy. Baked chips, cheese puffs, and veggie chips are safe choices for those with braces, as are French fries and sweet potato fries. You can indulge in these treats throughout your braces treatment.
However, some chips should be avoided while wearing braces. Ruffled chips, “kettle” chips, tortilla chips, crunchy cheese puffs, and hard crackers can all be problematic. These tough, crunchy foods can break brackets or damage your appliances. To keep your braces in good condition and ensure effective treatment, it’s best to avoid these types of snacks. Let’s explore all the options available to you regarding the question ‘Can You Eat Chips with Braces?’.
Types of Chips You Can Eat with Braces:
To avoid damaging your braces, opt for softer chips. Safe choices include baked chips, regular “classic” chips, puff snacks like cheese curls, veggie straws, and French fries. These are perfect snacks that won’t harm your braces, but be sure to eat one chips slice at a time to prevent biting down too hard, which could cause damage to your dental braces.
The best chips for braces are those that don’t require excessive biting pressure and don’t break easily into small pieces. Harder chips can splinter, getting lodged between your brackets and wires, and they may also require more force to bite, which can lead to appliance damage.
To maintain good dental hygiene after enjoying chips with braces, follow these steps:
- Brush, rinse, and floss your teeth after eating chips. Chips contain starchy carbohydrates that can stick to your teeth and attract harmful bacteria.
- Since starchy carbs can contribute to tooth decay, it’s essential to clean your teeth promptly to avoid complications. Prioritizing dental care is key to keeping your braces in great shape.
Chips You Should Avoid With Braces?
To protect your braces, steer clear of hard chips and crunchy cheese puffs, as these can damage your braces’ wires. Instead, opt for braces-friendly snack options that won’t harm your appliance.
Healthy snacks like peanut butter are a good choice, but you should avoid hard-baked crackers and ice cream. Understanding which foods to avoid is essential for maintaining your dental health during your braces treatment.
If you’re using Invisalign, it’s also important to be cautious with these snacks. Keep your braces or aligners safe by avoiding hard chips and similar foods.
Eating foods that are too tough for your braces can cause significant damage, such as breaking brackets or bending wires. Additionally, chips can get lodged between your brackets and wires, potentially leading to damage or tooth decay if your oral care routine is not properly followed.
When Can You Start Eating Chips with Braces?
After getting your braces, it’s best to wait a few days before eating chips. Your teeth will be sensitive right after the braces are applied, and eating chips can cause additional discomfort. This also applies when your braces are tightened, though you may not need to wait as long since your teeth will have adjusted to the braces by then.
Frequently Asked Questions about Eating with Braces:
Can I Eat Doritos with Braces?
Doritos are not ideal for people with braces. These hard chips tend to splinter easily and can damage your braces. It’s best to avoid Doritos until your braces are removed, so you can protect your smile!
Can I Have Flamin’ Hot Cheetos with Braces?
The original Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are too crunchy and hard for braces, which can potentially cause damage. However, you can enjoy the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos puffs as a safer option. Just let them dissolve a bit on your tongue before eating, and remember to brush, rinse, and floss afterward to prevent tooth decay.
Can I Eat Takis with Braces?
Takis are too hard for braces and could cause damage to your brackets and wires. Their crunchiness makes them risky to eat while wearing braces, so it’s best to wait until after your braces treatment to indulge in Takis again.
Can I Have Nachos with Braces?
Since nachos are typically made with tortilla chips, they are not suitable for people with braces. Tortilla chips are tough and can break your brackets or wires from the pressure needed to chew them, so it’s better to skip nachos until your treatment is over.
Can I Eat Popcorn with Braces?
Popcorn is generally not recommended for people with braces because the kernels can damage the braces, and the hulls can get stuck in hard-to-reach places. However, there are some strategies to safely enjoy popcorn while wearing braces, but it’s important to be cautious and ensure you follow proper oral care afterward.
Read More:
Does Having Wisdom Teeth Means You Stopped Growing Taller
