Diet & Habits

Let's talk about what you shouldn't put in your mouth while wearing braces. For the first few days, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you'll be back to comfortably eating these foods, but you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances.

A few foods to avoid:

• Chewy foods, like bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods, like popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods, like caramels, gum, candy, soda
• Foods you have to bite into. like corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Habits to stop immediately:

• Chewing hard things, like pens, fingernails, or ice

Eating and chewing on these foods and items could damage your braces or retainer, which will make treatment take longer. Do yourself a favor and follow these temporary rules while undergoing orthodontic treatment!

As a board certified orthodontist, Dr. Larrabee has one goal: to give you an amazing, natural looking smile with the most comfortable treatment possible. Located in Mesa, Arizona, Advanced Orthodontics provides comprehensive orthodontic therapy for adults and children. Dr. Larrabee offers traditional orthodontics, as well as innovative Invisalign, Wilckodontics braces, and Damon braces for excellent results. Patients from Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, or Apache Junction, Scottsdale, Globe, and surrounding communities rely on our team for excellent treatment and service. People from all over the valley visit us for amazing technology and excellent results! Call our Mesa, AZ orthodontics office today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Larrabee.