When you get braces, you have to give up some foods, including whole apples. Luckily, you can still eat apples with braces. You just need to eat them the right way.

When you got your braces, your orthodontist probably went over how to properly care for them, as well as a list of foods you can and can’t eat. You probably learned that your diet now can’t consist of anything hard in texture that requires a certain pressure to chew them.

A common misconception is that you can’t eat apples if you have braces. After all, they have a crisp texture and can be difficult to bite into, meaning they have the potential to stress or even break your braces’ wires and brackets. But if you love to eat apples, don’t worry! You don’t have to abstain from eating apples when you have braces. You just have to eat them the right way, and we’ll show you how. 

Eating Apples The Right Way With Braces

When you bite into an apple, your four incisors place a considerable amount of force on the fruit to slice through it. When you have braces on your incisors, they end up taking the brunt of the pressure when you bite into an apple, which can snap or loosen your braces’ brackets or wires.

By finding a way to eat them that requires chewing instead of biting, you can still enjoy apples! Unlike biting, chewing exerts pressure between your back molars rather than against your braces. Some orthodontics-friendly ways to eat apples include: 

• Eating applesauce: After you get your braces or after your orthodontist adjusts them, your teeth will hurt, so you probably won’t want to eat apples for a few days, sliced or not. However, you can still eat applesauce comfortably since you don’t need to bite or chew anything.
• Slicing them: By slicing your apples up before eating them and biting into the slices with your back teeth, you can lessen the pressure your incisors place on your braces and avoid any loose brackets or bent wires. You can even chop your apple slices up into manageable, one-bite pieces to further reduce the effort it takes to bite and chew.
• Cooking them: Cooking your apples softens them considerably. You can coat apple slices in sugar and cinnamon or even bake them into a pie.
• Removing the peels: Apple peels are tough and can easily get stuck in your braces’ wires. By removing the skin before eating an apple, you will reduce the likelihood of damaging your braces.
• Dipping them in caramel sauce: If you can’t give up caramel-coated apples, dip apple slices into caramel sauce. Caramel sauce is smooth and liquid, so you’ll be able to avoid the loose brackets and contorted wires that often accompany caramel apples. 

After eating your apple, make sure to brush and floss carefully to remove any small pieces of apple that may have become lodged in your braces!

Other Hard Fruits And Vegetables You Can Eat With Braces

While other crunchy fruits and vegetables like radishes, corn, and carrots generally fall under the do-not-eat category when you have braces, you can still eat them as long as you take proper precautions. For corn, slice the corn from the cob first. Cut carrots, cucumbers, and radishes into bite-sized pieces first.

Braces-Friendly Oral Health Tips

Your brackets have to be cemented firmly and your wires have to be straight to effectively straighten your teeth and align your jaw, which means avoiding any foods and drinks that can loosen your brackets or bend your wires. These include hard nuts, popcorn, hard candy, and sticky candy.

You should also avoid drinking sugary soft drinks because they lead to plaque buildup and braces stains. To avoid plaque accumulation and ensure your teeth are as healthy as possible, thoroughly brush and floss each day and schedule regular appointments with your orthodontist and dentist.

If you live near Oklahoma City, visit Espire’s Oklahoma City, Oklahoma practice. Our dentists are experienced, equipped with cutting-edge technology, and ready to answer any questions you have about your teeth or braces. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.