Can You Eat Ze Bugs with Braces?

Can you eat ze bugs with braces… and be happy? No, best not to as their legs and tentacles will get caught in your wires, they’re likely to get stuck in your braces and become troublesome.

Besides, we all know what ultimately happened to the old lady who swallowed a fly.

However, if you have cravings for crickets, worms or grasshoppers (you’ll be the first) that are chunky or crunchy, they should be avoided. There are better and healthier options for you, your teeth and getting protein in your diet.

We searched the web for more information about eating ze bugs with and without braces.

So, can you eat ze bugs with braces? It’s best not to! Bugs have hard exoskeleton that can damage your braces and they also contain chitin which can cause allergies.

What is Chitin?

Chitin is a protein found in many invertebrates, including shrimp, crabs, and lobsters. It’s also found in the exoskeleton of insects.

Insects that have a hard exoskeleton are called arthropods. Arthropods are invertebrates that have an external skeleton that protects their internal organs and muscles, and includes jointed appendages such as antennae, legs, wings, and mouthparts.

In humans, chitin can cause gastrointestinal distress and trigger an allergic reaction such as vomiting or diarrhea. This is because when the body tries to break chitin down the body releases a molecule called chitobiose that’s similar to glucose. Glucose triggers an immune response in people who are sensitive to it.

People with allergies to shellfish or insects may experience symptoms such as hives, swelling of the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, nausea and vomiting when they eat seafood, bugs or foods containing insect chitin.

The Dangers of Eating Raw Chitin and Why You Should Avoid It at All Costs

Raw chitin is one of the most dangerous things to eat without cooking, and the dangers that come with it are immense.

What’s more, these dangers don’t just apply to humans – they also apply to other animals who might be consuming your food as well!

So, leave eating ze bugs for the birds, they are more adapted to eating and digesting them (even though many remove much of the chitinous part of the insect before swallowing) and you will be happy.

What Snacks Can You Eat 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. For example; gum, caramel, and 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 or orthodontist 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 Ze Bugs With Braces?

Perry Stevens

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.