Getting braces is exciting, but the first week can come with a little soreness as your teeth adjust. One of the biggest questions patients have is, “What can you eat with braces?” The good news is that there are plenty of soft, easy foods you can enjoy while keeping your teeth comfortable and protecting your brackets.
During your first week with braces, stick to soft foods like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, smoothies, yogurt, mashed potatoes, pasta, soup, applesauce, bananas, and tender proteins. Avoid crunchy, sticky, chewy, or hard foods that can irritate sore teeth or damage brackets.
Why the First Week With Braces Feels Challenging
Why does the first week feel challenging? Braces start applying pressure to shift teeth into alignment as soon as they’re placed. This can lead to soreness in teeth and gums, heightened sensitivity, and even small cuts or irritation from brackets.
While this discomfort typically peaks within the first few days and subsides within a week, adjusting eating habits early is essential for reducing pain.
Foods You Can Eat With Braces
The best foods you can eat with braces are soft, gentle on your teeth, and easy to chew. This is especially important during the first few days after getting braces or after an adjustment, when your teeth may feel more sensitive than usual.
Good soft foods for braces include:
- Oatmeal
- Scrambled eggs
- Yogurt
- Smoothies
- Applesauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Macaroni and cheese
- Pasta
- Soup
- Soft rice
- Bananas
- Soft-cooked vegetables
- Tender chicken or fish
- Pancakes
- Pudding or Jell-O
These foods can help you stay comfortable while still getting enough to eat during your first week with braces.
What to Eat the First Week With Braces
During the first week, simple meals are usually best. Your teeth may feel sore, so try to choose foods that do not require a lot of biting or chewing.
For breakfast, you might try oatmeal, scrambled eggs, yogurt, a smoothie, pancakes, or soft fruit like bananas. For lunch or dinner, softer options like pasta, soup, mashed potatoes, soft rice, macaroni and cheese, or tender proteins are usually easier to manage.
If your teeth are especially sore, cooler foods like smoothies, yogurt, or applesauce may feel soothing. Warm foods like soup or mashed potatoes can also be comforting, as long as they are not too hot.
What to Eat When Your Teeth Are Sore
If your teeth feel sore after getting braces, stick with extra-soft foods for a few days. Foods like smoothies, mashed potatoes, soup, yogurt, scrambled eggs, and applesauce can make eating easier while your mouth adjusts.
It can also help to cut food into smaller pieces instead of biting directly into larger items. This makes chewing more comfortable and helps protect your braces.
Foods to Avoid With Braces
While there are plenty of foods you can eat with braces, there are also a few foods you should avoid. Hard, sticky, crunchy, or chewy foods can damage brackets, bend wires, or make your teeth feel more irritated.
Foods to avoid with braces include:
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Hard candy
- Gum
- Sticky or chewy candy
- Caramel
- Crunchy chips
- Ice
- Whole apples
- Corn on the cob
- Tough meats
- Hard pretzels
- Crunchy taco shells
- Bagels or tough bread
You may still be able to enjoy some foods with small adjustments. For example, instead of biting into a whole apple, cut it into thin slices. Instead of eating corn on the cob, cut the corn off the cob first.
Braces-Friendly Snacks
Snacking with braces is completely possible. You just want to choose options that are soft and easy to chew.
Good braces-friendly snacks include:
- Yogurt
- Applesauce
- Bananas
- Soft cheese
- Smoothies
- Pudding
- Soft muffins
- Cottage cheese
- Hummus with soft pita
- Avocado
- Soft granola bars without nuts or hard pieces
Try to avoid snacks that are crunchy, sticky, or hard, since those can put extra pressure on your brackets and wires.
What Can You Eat With Braces in the First Week?
The key to meal planning is focusing on foods that don’t require a lot of chewing or biting. Here’s what you can eat with braces the first week, with tips for every meal and snack time.
Best Breakfast Options
- Oatmeal: Warm, comforting, and easy to customize with soft fruits or cinnamon.
- Scrambled Eggs: Packed with protein and easy to chew!
- Smoothies: Blend soft fruits like bananas or berries with yogurt and honey for a nutritious start.
- Yogurt: Creamy and soothing, plus a source of calcium.
- Pancakes: Fluffy, soft, and easy to eat; add a spread of butter or syrup for a treat.
Lunch and Dinner Ideas
- Macaroni and Cheese: A classic comfort food that’s kid-approved.
- Mashed Potatoes: Fluffy and filling. Add some gravy for extra flavor!
- Soups: Options like tomato bisque, chicken noodle, or creamy pumpkin are gentle and warming.
- Soft-Cooked Pasta: Think spaghetti, ravioli, or penne cooked until extra tender.
- Steamed Vegetables: Steamed carrots, broccoli, and zucchini pack essential nutrients.
- Tender Fish or Shredded Chicken: Mild and tender proteins like baked salmon or slow-cooked chicken are gentle on sore teeth.
Snacks and Desserts
- Applesauce: Easy to eat and a healthy option for a sweet tooth.
- Pudding: A smooth dessert that feels indulgent without any chewing involved.
- Ice Cream (in moderation): Cool and soothing for sensitive spots—but avoid hard toppings or fillings!
- Jell-O: A classic option for sore mouths that comes in a rainbow of flavors.
- Soft Fruits, Like Bananas: Easily mashable and a great, quick snack.
5 Tips for Eating Comfortably with Braces
Now that you know what to eat with braces during the first week, do you have to stick to soft foods for the entire time? Not at all! Here are some helpful tips to make eating and chewing more comfortable during this adjustment period.
- Cut Food Into Small Pieces: Smaller bites mean less pressure on sensitive teeth. Pre-cut meals help you manage portions more comfortably.
- Chew Slowly and Use Back Teeth: Take smaller bites and chew with your back teeth to avoid putting pressure on your front brackets.
- Avoid Extremely Hot or Cold Foods: Extremes in temperature can heighten sensitivity and make eating less enjoyable. Stick to lukewarm meals.
- Use Orthodontic Wax: Cover irritating brackets with orthodontic wax to prevent soreness while eating.
- Rinse with Warm Salt Water: A gentle rinse with salt water can soothe swollen gums and promote healing for any irritation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What can I eat with braces besides soft foods?
A: Once your initial soreness improves, you can enjoy a wider variety of braces-friendly foods, including soft sandwiches, rice bowls, pasta, cooked vegetables, and tender meats. You don’t have to stick to mashed potatoes and smoothies throughout your entire treatment. Just avoid foods that are hard, sticky, or crunchy enough to damage your brackets or wires.
Q: How do you know if a food is safe to eat with braces?
A: Consider how hard, sticky, or chewy the food is before eating it. Foods that require forceful biting, pull at your brackets, or could bend a wire are best avoided. When you’re unsure, ask your orthodontist whether a food is safe.
Q: What can you eat with braces when you’re at a restaurant?
A: Look for meals with softer ingredients, such as pasta, rice bowls, tender fish, or soft tacos. You can also make your usual order more braces-friendly by skipping crunchy toppings, choosing softer sides, and cutting larger foods into bite-sized pieces.
Q: What fast food can you eat with braces?
A: You can still enjoy fast food with braces by choosing softer options like burgers on soft buns, soft tacos, and pizza with a soft crust. Cut larger foods into smaller pieces and avoid crunchy shells, hard bread, and other foods that could damage your brackets or wires. If you’re in your first week of treatment, choose foods that feel comfortable to chew.
Q: Can you eat candy with braces?
A: You can enjoy some candy with braces, but it’s important to choose options that won’t damage your brackets or wires. Soft, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate without nuts or crunchy fillings is generally a better choice than hard candy, gummies, caramel, or taffy. Brush your teeth after eating sweets to help prevent sugar from building up around your braces.
Q: What should you do if eating with braces feels uncomfortable?
A: Try taking smaller bites, chewing slowly, and choosing foods that are easier to chew. If you’ve recently gotten braces or had an adjustment, temporarily switching to softer meals may help. Contact your orthodontist if eating remains painful or you think a bracket or wire has come loose.
Q: How long after getting braces can you eat normally?
A: Most patients find that eating becomes more comfortable within a few days to a week after getting braces. As your initial soreness improves, you can gradually return to a wider variety of foods.
Expert Orthodontic Care to Brighten Every Smile
To recap: What can you eat during your first week with braces? Stick to soft, easy-to-chew foods like oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, soups, and tender proteins (such as fish or shredded chicken). These foods reduce pressure on sore teeth and make eating more comfortable.
We know that adjusting to braces can feel overwhelming at first—for kids, parents, and adults. At Silcox Orthodontics, we’re here to make the process as smooth as possible. From personalized treatment plans to what to eat with braces the first week to expert tips on care and comfort, Dr. Silcox and our team are committed to your family’s orthodontic success. Have questions or need more tips for navigating this new chapter? Contact Silcox Orthodontics for personalized guidance today!
