Can You Eat Celery With Braces? (NO, Stay Away)
Is it safe to eat celery with braces? The answer is no. Celery can be particularly damaging to braces, as it is both crunchy and has fibrous strings that can get tangled in brackets. To prevent damage to your orthodontic appliance, avoid eating celery while wearing braces
Here is a table of vegetables that are generally safe to eat with braces:
| Vegetable | Safe to Eat? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soft cooked carrots | Yes | Slice or mash for easier chewing. |
| Soft cooked peas | Yes | Mash for easier chewing. |
| Soft cooked sweet potatoes | Yes | Mash for easier chewing. |
| Cooked spinach | Yes | Soft, cooked spinach is safe to eat. Raw spinach may be difficult to chew and could get stuck in braces. |
| Cooked broccoli | Yes | Soft, cooked broccoli is safe to eat. Raw broccoli may be difficult to chew and could get stuck in braces. |
| Cooked zucchini | Yes | Slice or mash for easier chewing. |
| Cooked green beans | Yes | Slice or mash for easier chewing. |
It’s important to note that these vegetables should be cooked until they are soft to make them easier to chew and swallow. Raw vegetables may be difficult to chew and could potentially get stuck in braces or cause damage to the orthodontic appliance. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to talk to your orthodontist about which foods are safe to eat with braces, as they can provide personalized advice and guidance.
We searched the web for more information on forums about what foods can you eat with braces.
Foods You Can Eat With Braces:
Here is an extended table of foods you can eat with braces, with some additional options:
| Soft foods | Foods to avoid |
|---|---|
| Cooked pasta | Hard or chewy candy |
| Cooked rice | Hard or crunchy chips |
| Mashed potatoes | Hard or crunchy granola bars |
| Soft fruits (e.g. bananas, berries) | Hard or chewy fruit snacks |
| Soft vegetables (e.g. steamed broccoli, carrots) | Hard or chewy nuts |
| Soft protein sources (e.g. cooked eggs, chicken) | Hard or chewy bread or bagels |
| Soft dairy products (e.g. yogurt, cheese) | Hard or chewy ice cream or frozen yogurt |
| Soft desserts (e.g. pudding, jello) | Hard or chewy cookies or brownies |
| Soft cereals (e.g. oatmeal, cream of wheat) | Hard or crunchy granola |
| Soft soups (e.g. pureed or cream soups) | Hard or chewy pretzels or jerky |
| Soft bread (e.g. white bread, muffins) | Hard or chewy candy bars |
| Soft fruits (e.g. applesauce, fruit purees) | Hard or chewy caramel or taffy |
| Soft protein sources (e.g. ground beef, turkey) | Hard or chewy licorice or gummies |
| Soft rice dishes (e.g. risotto, rice pudding) | Hard or chewy jelly beans or gum |
| Soft vegetables (e.g. steamed spinach, squash) | Hard or chewy lollipops or jawbreakers |
| Soft fish (e.g. salmon, tilapia) | Hard or chewy fruit leather or chewable vitamins |
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.
Summary
So, can you eat celery with braces? It is generally not recommended to eat celery with braces. Celery is a crunchy vegetable with fibrous strings that can easily get tangled in brackets and cause damage to braces. Additionally, the hard, fibrous nature of celery can make it difficult to chew and swallow, which can be uncomfortable for people with braces. It is best to avoid celery while wearing braces and choose softer, easier-to-chew vegetables instead. If you have any questions or concerns, it’s always a good idea to talk to your orthodontist. They can provide personalized advice and guidance on which foods are safe to eat with braces.
If you are wearing metal braces, we recommend cleaning your braces within the next 60 minutes after eating and foods. Follow these simple tips to ensure good oral hygiene.
- Spend two minutes brushing your teeth. Take 30 seconds to brush your upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left sections of your mouth. Make sure your teeth are brushed on both the outside and inside. For two full minutes of brushing, set a timer.
- Using a threader or Waterpik is recommended. The most challenging aspect of oral hygiene when wearing braces is flossing. Threading floss through the wire will be easier if it is attached to a threader. To remove further plaque, use a sawing motion. Water flossers are also recommended. Water is used to clean, and flossing is easy and quick.
- At night, you should use mouthwash. Consider fluoride mouthwashes that protect enamel and fight caries. Any food particles will be removed after one minute of rinsing. Inspect the mirror after rinsing to see if any spots were missed.
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 Celery 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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