Can You Eat Pickles With Braces? (Only Dill)
Can you eat pickles with braces? NO, be careful. Acidic foods include pickles. You may need to extend your orthodontic treatment if the high acid content of these foods damages your bonding material. We do have a hack though. Your braces are less likely to be damaged by dill pickles because they have a low acid level. Consider ordering your pickles without the sauce or dip if you are worried about eating them with braces.
Here are some tips for eating dill pickles with braces:
- Cut your pickles into small pieces to make them easier to chew and swallow.
- Avoid biting into the pickle directly with your front teeth, as this can damage your braces.
- Use your back teeth to chew your pickle, as this will put less pressure on your braces.
- Be careful when eating toppings, such as mustard or ketchup, as they can get stuck in your braces and be difficult to remove.
- Drink plenty of water while eating to help rinse away any food particles that may become trapped in your braces.
- Brush your teeth after eating to remove any food particles and maintain good oral hygiene.
- Talk to your orthodontist if you have any concerns about eating pickles or other foods with braces. They can provide guidance on how to maintain healthy teeth and gums while wearing braces.
We searched the web for more information on forums about eating pickles 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.
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 |
Conclusion
So, can you eat pickles with braces? Only dill pickles
Due to its acidity (regular pickles) as your enamel (the hard outer layer) wears down, you may experience sensitivity to textures, temperatures and hot and cold foods. Teeth can become discolored and indentated over time due to cracks, chips, and discoloration.
The wire of your braces can be damaged if you eat something crispy, or the bracket may break if you eat crispy chips.
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 fast foods with braces post.
Can You Eat Pickles 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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