How Long Does a Person Have to Wait to Eat After Getting Braces?
A person can eat immediately after getting braces, but doctors recommend consuming soft foods, especially during the first day, according to Classic City Orthodontics. Individuals with braces should avoid raw vegetables, hard breads and firm meats.
Dentists suggest avoiding tough foods, such as nuts and candy, as well as chewy foods, such as bagels and hard rolls, states Classic City Orthodontics. Additionally, people with braces should avoid crunchy snacks, such as popcorn and chips, and foods that require biting. Chewing on fingernails or pencils can also possibly damage orthodontic appliances.
Advisable foods to eat while wearing braces include soft, steamed vegetables, seafood and soft fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit, says About Faces and Braces. Dairy products, soft-cooked meats, pasta, eggs and desserts, such as ice cream and pudding, do not damage braces. People who wear braces should cut foods such as pizza, hamburgers and hot dogs into tiny pieces before consumption.
People who get braces typically experience tender teeth while biting and a sore feeling in the mouth during the first three to five days, notes Classic City Orthodontics. Rinsing the mouth with warm, salty water helps to alleviate soreness. To create the mouthwash, a person can mix 1 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water.
