Having Braces and Eating Breakfast

Breakfast—the most important meal of the day. So why are many of us rushing off and skipping this part of our day so often? Breakfast should be taken seriously, but if you have braces, you may be struggling to find the right foods that work with your braces. Although braces are generally easy to get used to and take care of, there is sometimes confusion about what is okay to eat and what you should avoid. Let’s take some time to talk about breakfast and braces, and reduce some of the confusion about what to eat for this important meal.

Braces-Friendly Breakfast Foods

Breakfast is a time for us to wake up and get ready for the day. In most cases, this means having a meal to fuel our bodies and get ourselves ready to tackle whatever life has in store for us, at least until lunch. When you have braces, you’ll want to be careful about the foods you eat during this morning meal. That’s why it’s best to stick to the following braces-friendly foods:

• Yogurt
• Fruit
• Scrambled eggs
• Oatmeal
• Smoothies

Not only are these foods softer, which means they are easier on your braces, they are also nutritious and typically lower in sugar than many other breakfast foods available today. Having braces means you are responsible for ensuring they stay clear of damage, and a main culprit of damaged braces is the food you choose to eat, so choose wisely.

Breakfast Foods to Avoid

As you may well be aware, even if you’ve only had your braces for a short period of time, there are certain foods that will need to be avoided when you have braces. Breakfast is no exception. Be sure to stay away from some of these problem breakfast foods:

• Hard toast
• Chewy bread, like bagels
• Crunchy cereal

Not only are many cereal options loaded with excess sugar, the crunchy texture can cause damage to your braces, and hard or chewy foods can also damage your brackets and wires. The last thing you want to do is eat something you shouldn’t and have to deal with the discomfort that comes with a loose wire or a broken bracket. Plus, it also means having to take time out of your busy day to get it fixed at your orthodontist’s office. Let’s avoid all of that stress by avoiding these problem foods!

Your Morning Routine

Don’t forget about another important part of your morning—your oral hygiene routine. Be sure to brush and floss every morning and night, and after eating if you can, to keep food from getting stuck in your braces. This can cause a build-up of bacteria in the mouth, resulting in problems with the teeth and gums. This is important for everyone, but especially for those with braces as there are more places in the mouth for bacteria to hide and multiply.

As you can see, when you have braces, there are still many options available to make sure you’re having a healthy, delicious, and nutritious meal for breakfast to power you through your day with ease!