I just got braces. Are there any foods I should avoid eating?

Girl with bracesYes. There are certain foods that you can stick to your braces or get stuck in between your braces and teeth that can lead to cavities and/or mouth soreness. You should avoid or limit hard foods such as nuts and hard candy. You should also avoid or limit sticky foods such as gum, chewy candy, and gummy fruit snacks. Finally, chewy and/or crunchy foods such as toasted bagels, apples, and licorice aren’t good choices either.


Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.