Braces
What can I eat with braces?
You can eat most soft and tender foods with braces, such as pasta, eggs, yogurt, soft fruit and tender meat cut into small pieces. Avoid hard, sticky and chewy foods, which can break brackets and bend wires. With clear aligners, take them out to eat or drink anything except plain water.
Reviewed by Dr. Yugal Behl, orthodontist · November 3, 2026
Why does food matter with braces?
Brackets are glued to your teeth and joined by a thin wire. Hard or sticky food can pop a bracket off or bend the wire, which means an extra visit and can slow your progress.
What foods are safe with braces?
Soft foods that don’t need hard biting are easiest on braces and on sore teeth:
- Fruit and vegetables: bananas, berries, applesauce, avocado, and cooked or steamed vegetables
- Grains: pasta, rice, oatmeal, pancakes, soft bread and soft tortillas
- Protein: eggs, fish, shredded chicken, ground meat, tofu and beans
- Dairy: yogurt, milk, cheese and cottage cheese
- Soups and stews
What foods should I avoid with braces?
These are the foods most likely to break brackets or bend wires:
- Hard: ice, hard candy, nuts, hard pretzels, crusty bread and hard pizza crust
- Sticky or chewy: caramel, taffy, gummies, licorice and chewing gum
- Crunchy: popcorn, chips and hard taco shells
- Foods you bite into with your front teeth: whole apples, raw carrots, corn on the cob and ribs or wings (cut the food off the bone or into small pieces instead)
Which habits can damage braces?
- Chewing ice
- Biting pens, pencils or fingernails
- Opening packages with your teeth
What should I eat when my teeth are sore?
Teeth often feel tender for a few days after braces go on or after an adjustment. Smoothies, yogurt, soup, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes and pasta are easy to eat. Cold foods can feel soothing. If you need it, an over-the-counter pain reliever you would normally use, taken as directed on the label, can help; ask your pharmacist or doctor if you’re not sure.
What can I eat with Invisalign® aligners?
There are no food limits with clear aligners, because you take them out to eat. Take them out for anything except plain water, brush your teeth, then put them back in. Drinking other drinks with aligners in can trap sugar against your teeth, and hot drinks can warp the plastic.
Easy food swaps for braces
Instead of the food on the left, try the one on the right:
- Whole apple → thin apple slices or applesauce
- Corn on the cob → corn cut off the cob
- Hard taco shell or chips → soft tortilla or pita
- Caramel or chewy candy → soft chocolate without nuts or caramel, now and then
- Popcorn → soft puffed snacks
- Nuts → smooth peanut butter or other nut butters
- Crusty bread → soft sandwich bread
More questions
- Can I chew gum with braces?
- We recommend skipping gum during braces. It can stick to brackets and bend wires.
- Can I eat pizza with braces?
- Yes. Choose a soft crust, skip the hard edges, and cut it into small pieces instead of biting into it.
- What if I eat something I shouldn’t?
- Check your braces in a mirror for a loose bracket or bent wire, and brush well. If something has come loose, see our emergencies page and call us.
- Can I drink soda or sports drinks with braces?
- Water is best. Sugary and acidic drinks can cause white spots around brackets. If you have one, rinse with water afterwards.
- Do I have to cut all my food into small pieces?
- For firm foods like meat, raw vegetables and sandwiches, yes. Small pieces you chew with your back teeth protect your front brackets.
