Can You Eat Bagels With Braces? (Best To Avoid)
Can you eat bagels with braces? No. Your braces can be damaged or even broken if you eat chewy foods like bagels and hard rolls. Additionally, sticky foods such as licorice, taffy, caramel, and Starburst can damage your teeth.
However if you do want to indulge here are some bullet points about eating bagels with braces:
- Bagels can be eaten with braces, but it is important to avoid biting into them directly.
- Instead, try cutting the bagel into small pieces or slicing it horizontally and pulling it apart with your fingers.
- Bagels are a good source of carbohydrates and protein, but they can also be hard and chewy, so be careful not to put too much pressure on your braces when eating them.
- Toppings, such as cream cheese or peanut butter, can make bagels easier to eat with braces. Soft spreads are better than hard or crunchy toppings, such as nuts or seeds.
- It is always a good idea to check with your orthodontist before trying new foods with braces. They can provide guidance on the best way to eat different foods with braces and help you avoid damaging your braces or causing them to become loose.
We searched the web for more information on forums about if you can eat bagels with braces.
Food “hardness” and food “stickiness” should be considered when determining what is okay to eat while wearing braces.
To prevent bending or breaking the wires in your mouth, avoid chewing anything that has hard chunks. Damage can be caused to wires by popcorn kernels, nuts, seeds, hard candy, apples, crunchy vegetables etc.
Getting stuck between the wires and brackets of your teeth can be a problem with sticky items that do not “clear” the mouth quickly. The likes of gum, caramel, taffy. Avoid eating foods that stick between your teeth, even if you don’t have braces.
After eating, excellent oral hygiene is essential with braces. After eating, swish vigorously with lots of clean water if you’re at school/work during the day
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your teeth thoroughly, but gently. Use a water pick to reach those hard-to-reach places, and use interdental brushes/picks to get between your teeth.
You should consult with your dentist first to find out what kind of guide to follow based on your treatment condition before consuming your favorite foods.
Foods you can eat with braces
Here is a more extensive extended table of foods that you can eat with braces, including examples of each type of food and a description of how to prepare them:
| SOFT FOODS | EXAMPLES | HOW TO PREPARE |
|---|---|---|
| Pudding | Chocolate pudding, tapioca pudding | Mix pudding mix with milk according to package instructions and refrigerate until set. |
| Jell-O | Any flavor of Jell-O | Mix Jell-O powder with boiling water and refrigerate until set. |
| Yogurt | Plain yogurt, fruit-flavored yogurt | Open container and spoon out desired amount. |
| Smoothies | Banana smoothie, berry smoothie | Blend together desired fruits, milk or yogurt, and ice until smooth. |
| Soft cooked meat | Chicken breast, fish fillets | Cook meat in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked and tender. |
| Tofu | Silken tofu, firm tofu | Cut tofu into small cubes and cook in a skillet over medium heat until heated through. |
| Mashed potatoes | Plain mashed potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes | Peel and chop potatoes, boil in salted water until tender, then mash with butter and milk. |
| MODERATE FOODS | EXAMPLES | HOW TO PREPARE |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked vegetables | Cooked carrots, cooked green beans | Peel and chop vegetables, steam or boil until tender. |
| Soft fruits | Ripe bananas, ripe peaches | Peel and slice fruits, or blend into a smoothie. |
| Soft cheeses | Cream cheese, feta cheese | Slice or spread cheese on crackers or bread. |
| Soft cooked grains | Cooked rice, cooked quinoa | Cook grains according to package instructions, or use leftover cooked grains from a previous meal. |
| Flaked fish | Salmon, tilapia | Cook fish in a skillet over medium heat until flaky and fully cooked. |
| Pasta | Cooked spaghetti, cooked macaroni | Cook pasta according to package instructions, then toss with sauce or butter. |
| FOODS TO AVOID | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|
| Hard foods | Nuts, hard candies, ice, raw carrots, corn on the cob |
| Sticky foods | Gum, caramels, gummies, taffy, toffee |
| Crunchy foods | Popcorn, chips, pretzels, crackers, raw apples and pears |
| Chewy foods | Bagels, crusty bread, pizza crust, beef jerky |
| Sugary foods and drinks | Soda, candy, cake, cookies, fruit juice, sports drinks |
Bagel Recipes With Braces
Here are some recipes for bagels that are suitable for people with braces:
- Cream cheese and smoked salmon bagel: Spread cream cheese on a sliced bagel and top with sliced smoked salmon and a sprinkle of dill. This is a tasty and protein-rich option for breakfast or lunch.
- Peanut butter and banana bagel: Spread peanut butter on a sliced bagel and top with sliced bananas. This is a simple and satisfying option for a snack or breakfast.
- Egg and cheese bagel: Crack an egg into a small saucepan and cook it to your desired level of doneness. Place the egg on a sliced bagel and top with shredded cheese. This is a tasty and protein-rich option for breakfast or lunch.
- Hummus and vegetable bagel: Spread hummus on a sliced bagel and top with sliced vegetables, such as cucumber, bell pepper, and tomato. This is a healthy and satisfying option for a snack or lunch.
- Avocado and scrambled egg bagel: Mash half an avocado and spread it on a sliced bagel. Top with scrambled eggs and a sprinkle of black pepper. This is a tasty and nutritious option for breakfast or lunch.
Summary
So, can you eat bagels with braces? No best not to, but many people do, as is the case with most non advisable foods, just stick to bite size chunks, chew with the back of your teeth, and try and get the softest possible bagel, or you could just stick to soft foods and avoid the risks involved.
In terms of what you should do after eating the bagel, the first thing you should do is brush your teeth carefully. However, if you want to remove all of the remains from your mouth, you’d better use dental floss as well.
You should consult with your dentist first to find out what kind of guide to follow based on your treatment condition before consuming your favorite foods.
For more foods, read our comprehensive post of what you can eat with braces.
Can You Eat Bagels With Braces?
Perry heads up a dynamic marketing team that has help the leading orthodontic practices in the USA 10X their business for over a decade. He’s a tea connoisseur, avid reader, traveling and grower of exotic fruits in his permaculture food forest.
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