What Can You Eat With Lingual Braces?

Lingual braces can achieve a straighter smile while staying mostly hidden from view. While this treatment keeps your orthodontic journey private, it does bring some temporary dietary changes. Understanding which foods support the health of your appliances can help you navigate your treatment with confidence and ease.

Why dietary choices matter more with braces behind the teeth

The placement of lingual braces creates a unique eating environment. An orthodontist places the brackets and wires on the tongue-side surfaces of the teeth. While this positioning keeps the braces discreet, it places them in direct contact with the tongue and the primary path of food while eating. A diet that protects the braces helps keep them effective at moving the teeth as planned. It also helps the patient avoid delays, like additional visits to the orthodontist for repairs.

Foods that commonly cause problems with lingual braces

Certain categories of food are notorious for damaging braces of any kind. These items generally fall into two groups. The first group is those that are hard enough to break the brackets or the adhesive bond, and the second group is those that are sticky enough to pull a wire out of its slot. An orthodontist recommends avoiding the following foods with lingual braces:

• Hard and crunchy items. Such as ice cubes, hard pretzels, popcorn kernels, and crusty bread rolls that can break a bracket or snap them off the teeth.
• Sticky treats. Caramel, taffy, and thick gummies can wrap around the brackets on the back of the teeth, making them hard to clean.
• Fibrous or stringy foods. Certain meats or vegetables with long fibers can get tangled in the wires, which creates significant discomfort for the tongue.

While it is tempting to indulge, avoiding these items prevents the frustration of a broken wire or a loose bracket. Beyond the discomfort, needing a repair can also extend the treatment timeline.

Going out to restaurants with lingual braces

Navigating a restaurant menu with lingual braces is easy to manage with some preparation. Many popular cuisines, such as Italian or Japanese, offer numerous soft options (e.g., pasta, risotto, or sashimi) that are naturally compatible with orthodontics. When ordering, request that certain garnishes, like nuts or seeds, be left off to prevent small, hard pieces from getting stuck.

In addition, social dining becomes much more relaxed when patients focus on eating at a slow and steady pace. Taking smaller bites and chewing slowly not only protects the lingual braces but also gives the tongue more time to navigate the food around the brackets. This deliberate pace reduces the likelihood of an accidental bite that could cause problems.

Ask an orthodontist about lingual braces

While lingual braces require you to be a bit more intentional with your meals, the trade-off is a discreet treatment process that fits into your professional and social life. With a few adjustments, you can keep your treatment on track without sacrificing the joy of a good meal. Learn more during an appointment.

Request an appointment here: https://fitsmilesortho.com or call FitSmiles Orthodontics at (714) 782-0217 for an appointment in our Tustin office.

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