It can be such a struggle to eat right when you have braces on. You can’t always be sure of what you should or should not have. Your dentist will try to keep you informed, but you can’t always remember all of it. So once in a while, you might ask questions like ‘can you eat Doritos with braces’ or ‘can you eat chips with braces’.
This article will highlight several braces-friendly chips and explain the effect of other types of chips on your braces.
Can You Eat Doritos with Braces?
No, it is not advisable to eat Doritos with braces. This is mainly because Doritos are hard and crunchy and can cause damages to your braces with just one handful. It is best to avoid hard, crunchy, sticky, or chewy foods when you have braces on because these kinds of food can damage the brackets and break or shift the wires. You could end up with teeth pushed in the wrong direction or a longer and more stressful treatment period.
Baked chips instead of fried chips are a decent alternative. You could opt for Pringles instead of Doritos and still have a nice time with it. However, even with softer chips, it is incredibly important to take them one at a time rather than a mouthful.
Can Chips Damage Braces?
Yes, chips can damage braces depending on the type of chips and how you eat them. Fried or hard-baked chips are usually hard, crunchy, and require a lot more chewing compared to baked chips. They can bend the wires or break the brackets of your braces, sending you right to the dentist for repairs or replacements.
Even when you pick baked chips instead, eating them one handful after the other is guaranteed to have the same effect on your braces as the harder chips. We recommend taking them one at a time as earlier mentioned and chewing properly. Finally, knowing how to efficiently floss and brush after eating can make a big difference.
What Kind of Chips Can You Eat with Braces?
You can have baked chips with braces because they are softer and require less chewing. Here’s a list of chips you can eat with braces:
- Pringles
- Carrot chips
- Veggie sticks
- Cheese puffs
- Baked chips
- Kale chips
- Sweet potato fries
Regardless of the type of chips you choose to have, make sure to eat them one at a time and chew properly. You should also pay special attention when flossing after eating chips. You can also have some tasty alternatives to chips. For example, sliced fruit, yogurt, cheese slices, and smoothies are great alternatives for when you need a snack.
Read also: Can You Eat Pizza with Braces?
What Happens If You Eat Doritos With Braces?
Eating Doritos with braces could damage your braces. They are hard and crunchy, they could easily break off the brackets or damage the wires of your braces, which is why they are on the ‘red flag’ list. They can also break off and get stuck in your teeth or braces. It would be difficult to get them out without causing even more damage to your already damaged braces. They can also cause tooth decay and sensitivity if they are left stuck in your teeth. So basically, all hell could break loose when you eat Doritos with braces.
Read also: Can You Eat Salmon Rare and Medium-Rare?
How to Eat Doritos With Braces
It is not advisable to eat Doritos with braces because they can damage the braces. But if you must have them, then you should find a way to make them softer and less crunchy first. You may decide to boil them or crush them into tiny pieces so they require much less chewing and won’t be difficult to remove if they get stuck somewhere. You can also attempt to make them softer in your mouth before chewing with the help of your saliva, tongue, and the top of your mouth.
Conclusion
What you can and cannot eat typically depends on how comfortable you are with your braces. If you feel comfortable enough to crush Doritos without any pain, then you might as well. However, it is not recommended and you should be careful at all times because your brackets or wires could get damaged with any careless bite.
