Foods and Habits to Avoid During Orthodontic Treatment
Why Avoiding Certain Foods and Habits Matters
Orthodontic treatment works by applying steady, gentle pressure that moves your teeth into proper alignment. Both braces and Invisalign rely on consistency to achieve predictable results. Eating foods that are too hard or sticky, or neglecting daily care routines, can cause damage, discomfort, or delays. When you make smart choices about what you eat and how you care for your teeth, you’re helping your treatment stay on track and ensuring your smile turns out just the way it should.
Foods to Avoid During Braces or Invisalign Treatment
Certain foods can interfere with treatment and even damage your braces or Invisalign trays. Hard, crunchy, or sticky foods are the most common culprits. For example, biting into hard candy, chewing ice, or eating popcorn with unpopped kernels can bend wires or break brackets. Sticky foods such as caramel or taffy can cling to braces, making them difficult to clean and increasing the risk of tooth decay.
If you’re undergoing Invisalign treatment, you should always remove your aligners before eating. However, eating or drinking sugary or acidic beverages right before putting your trays back in can trap harmful bacteria against your teeth. Beverages like soda and sports drinks can also weaken enamel and cause staining.
In both braces and Invisalign cases, food choices affect more than just your orthodontic hardware, they affect your long-term oral health. Protecting your teeth and gums means being mindful of what you eat and how you clean your mouth after every meal.
Habits That Can Interfere with Orthodontic Progress
Your daily habits are just as important as the foods you eat. Common habits like chewing on pens, biting fingernails, or using your teeth to open packages put unnecessary pressure on your braces or teeth. These small actions can bend wires, loosen brackets, or even shift your teeth in unintended ways.
For Invisalign patients, one of the biggest habits to avoid is not wearing your aligners as instructed. Invisalign should be worn for 20 to 22 hours each day. Removing them too often, or forgetting to wear them consistently, slows progress and may extend your treatment time.
Neglecting oral hygiene is another major issue. With braces, it’s important to brush and floss around brackets and wires after every meal. For Invisalign users, failing to brush before reinserting trays can trap food particles and bacteria between your teeth and aligners, increasing the risk of cavities and bad breath.
Smoking or using tobacco products is another habit to avoid during orthodontic care. It can stain both teeth and aligners, cause gum irritation, and make your treatment less effective overall.
How Braces and Invisalign Differ in What You Should Avoid
At Honig Orthodontics, we offer both braces and Invisalign, and while both require care, the precautions differ slightly.
Braces
If you’re wearing metal or ceramic braces, you’ll need to stay away from foods that can damage wires or brackets. Hard foods like nuts, ice, and crusty bread can cause breakage, while sticky foods such as caramel or gum can pull brackets off teeth. Avoid biting directly into whole apples or corn on the cob; instead, cut them into smaller pieces.
Invisalign
Invisalign allows more freedom since the trays are removable, but you still need to be careful. You should remove your aligners to eat and drink anything other than water. Eating with your aligners can warp the trays or trap food, causing discomfort or poor alignment. After every meal, brush and rinse before putting your aligners back in to prevent plaque buildup.
Why Good Habits Make a Big Difference
The foods you eat and the way you care for your teeth directly affect your orthodontic results. Braces and Invisalign both move your teeth using gentle, steady pressure, and anything that disrupts that movement can slow your progress. When you avoid damaging foods, maintain good oral hygiene, and follow your orthodontist’s instructions, you create the best conditions for healthy, predictable tooth movement.
At Honig Orthodontics, we see that patients who take care of their braces or Invisalign and maintain good eating habits often finish treatment faster and with fewer adjustments. The extra effort you make at home leads to a stronger, healthier smile that lasts.
What to Do If You Make a Mistake
Everyone slips up now and then. If you accidentally eat something hard or sticky and notice a loose bracket or bent wire, call our office right away so we can schedule a repair. If you crack or misplace an Invisalign tray, let us know immediately so we can replace it and keep your progress on schedule.
If you forget to wear your aligners for a day, don’t worry, just get back to your regular routine as soon as possible. The key is consistency. Our team is here to help you correct small mistakes and continue moving forward without losing momentum.
Your Smile Journey with Honig Orthodontics
At Honig Orthodontics, Dr. Gordon Honig, Dr. Lisa Honig, and our dedicated team combine modern orthodontic technology with personalized care to give you the best possible experience. We’re committed to making your treatment comfortable, effective, and rewarding from start to finish. Whether you choose braces or Invisalign, our doctors will guide you every step of the way, helping you protect your smile and stay on track toward lasting results.
Ready to begin your smile transformation? Schedule your complimentary consultation at our Newark or Middletown office today. Let’s work together to create the beautiful smile you deserve.