Braces are a dental mechanism to straighten and align misaligned teeth, improve teeth structure, and correct bite issues. Several braces are available: ceramic braces, metal braces, lingual braces, and Invisalign braces. The braces consist of wires, brackets, and rubber bands to apply gentle pressure on the teeth to move their teeth to desired position. These braces depend on the patient’s lifestyle, age, and preferences. All these different braces have their benefits and drawbacks. Which brace to use depends on the patient’s preferences and needs. The treatment lasts 6 to 2 years, depending on the severity of the misalignment. People need to avoid particular food with braces. Can you eat bacon with braces?
Can you Eat Bacon with Braces?
It is essential to have excellent oral hygiene by wearing braces, to help avoid gum infections and tooth decay. Brushing and flossing the teeth regularly. Help keep the mouth clean and healthy. Metal braces are the most common braces used to straighten and align teeth. So, eating bacon with metal braces is usually much more manageable than other braces like ceramic or lingual braces.
Yes, one can eat bacon with braces. There is nothing dangerous about eating bacon-wearing braces. But one should be careful about how you eat the bacon with braces. Bacon meat can be very thick and chewy to eat with braces. Usually, people who eat with braces should avoid many foods that are hard to swallow, sticky, or even too crunchy to munch with braces. Eating such food can dislodge or break the brace brackets and wire.
Suppose one with braces loves to eat bacon; they have many different ways to prepare the bacon dish in ways they can quickly eat without damaging the braces. One way to cook bacon braces-friendly is to make it crispy and easy to chew and bite. This will help reduce the risk of dislodging the braces.
One can also cut the cooked bacon into thin and small strips and eat it with a fork rather than bite into it. Remember to follow the dentist’s warning and instructions when choosing food to eat with braces.
Does Bacon Get Stuck in your Braces?
Bacon does get stuck sometimes. Significantly, if the bacon is half cooked or chewy, the bacon pieces get stuck between the brace’s brackets and wires. This makes it difficult to remove the food particles from the teeth by brushing. So, one has to first remove it with a toothpick without damaging the braces and then floss the bacon pieces off the teeth. This can lead to dental issues like toothache, tooth decay, and other gum infections and diseases.
So, to reduce the risk of bacon and other food getting trapped in your braces, avoiding such hard, sticky, and chewy food is best. There are special orthodontic tools and mechanisms to remove such food particles.
What Happens If you Eat Bacon with Braces?
If you eat bacon-wearing braces, there is a chance for the bacon to get stuck in between the teeth or the braces. This makes it difficult to continue eating when the bacon gets stuck.
This creates discomfort and damage to the braces and its wire. And in case the bacon is not removed from the braces, it can cause tooth decay and infection. Sometimes, the chewy bacon has dislodged and bent the wires and brackets attached to the braces and teeth.
In some, there is reported gum diseases and cavity. This damage can extend the duration of using the braces to align the teeth. So always follow the dentist’s instructions and recommendations to safeguard the braces until the complete treatment.
How Long Do Braces Hurt Food?
Wearing a brace for the first time is a difficult period to face. The first application of braces is tight as the adjustment made is strong and unusual for the teeth. During this period, the first two weeks of wearing braces are very painful and heavy on the teeth. So, eating any hard and chewy food is painful. There is discomfort and soreness experienced while eating. So, during this time, avoid any hard food and go for easy and soft food like soup, scrambled eggs and cakes, etc. otherwise, cook food like vegetables and meat until smooth or cut them into smaller pieces before eating them.
Many OTC painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen relieve the pain and reduce the discomfort. If you notice any damage to the teeth or braces, contact your dentist and book an appointment to check it.
What Foods to Avoid with Braces?
When wearing braces, one cannot eat any food freely. They have restrictions when it comes to consuming certain food types. So, it is essential to be aware of and consume particular food carefully. Avoid this food to prevent damage and other dislodging issues related to the braces.
- Chewy food items include sticky toffee with caramel and chocolate syrups, gummy bears and jelly beans, chewing gum and taffy, etc.
- Crunchy and hard food items include candy and lolly pops, nuts and granola bars, hard biscuits, chips, crisps, fruits like guava and apples, and other raw vegetables like carrots and beet.
- Hard meat- this includes food like medium raw meat, chewy bacon, steak, etc.,
- Sugar and starch-rich food include hard cookies, candy, fizzy drinks, bread, buns, and pastry.
Ensure you do not bite food directly with the teeth you have braces on. So instead, try to cut the food into small pieces or chew only with the molars at the back. And maintain strict oral hygiene for adequate oral health conditions.
What Meats to Eat with Braces?
ensure to eat meat that is soft and easy to bite and chew. Here are some of the meats one can consume to avoid damage.
- Ground meat is much soft and easy to consume with braces. It can be ground beef, chicken, or turkey.
- Tender pork or beef- sirloin, tenderloin, and filet mignon are soft-cut meat and easy on braces.
- Fish- and fish is soft and chewy. Fish like salmon, tilapia, and cod are good choices.
- Deli meat- turkey and ham are thinly sliced deli meats that are much better for braces.
- Alternative meat options- there are other options like tofu, seitan, and tempeh, which are good choices for braces.
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