The effect of braces on your smile depends greatly on the types of food you eat during your treatment. Not paying attention to your diet could make you a regular visitor to the dentist, which is why in this article, we will be answering some popular questions about food restrictions. For example, can you eat pizza with braces? If yes, then what kind of pizza can you eat with braces?
The answers come with good news and bad news – you’d have to keep reading to find out. We will also be discussing some junk foods that you can still enjoy with your braces. We’ve got you covered!
Can you eat pizza with braces?
Yes, you can eat pizza with braces. However, you should be cautious with the kind of pizza and how you eat it. We recommend soft crust pizzas and toppings that come in small pieces. They would be easier to chew and are less likely to get stuck in or damage your braces. Pizzas with tough or thin crusts and chunky toppings can damage the wires and brackets of your braces. They could also get stuck in them and will be quite difficult to get out.
The majority would recommend avoiding pizzas altogether – or at least the crust – but there are reasonable ways to go about it. Soft crust pizzas and small-sized toppings like mushrooms will keep you in the ‘safe zone’. You can also choose to make your own pizza just to ensure the requirements for a braces-friendly pizza are met.
Get soft crust pizzas with your preferred toppings and cut them up into smaller pieces. We also recommend eating the pizzas slowly, with one small bite at a time. This way, you don’t have to put so much stress on your braces and you can savor the taste. You could even get a soft crust deep dish pizza, these are best when you have braces. Remember to clean up properly after enjoying your delicious pizza.
Can you eat pizza rolls with braces?
Yes, you can eat pizza rolls with braces as long as they’re soft and not thick, crunchy, or chunky. We recommend cutting them into small pieces, eating slowly – one small bite at a time, and cleaning up properly after eating to remove whatever might’ve gotten stuck in your braces. Eating foods that are difficult to chew could be detrimental to the state of your braces.
Can you eat pizza crust with braces?
Yes, you can eat pizza crust with braces if they are soft, cut up into small pieces, and eaten slowly. Thick, tough, or chunky pizza crusts are not braces-friendly. They require more chewing and could break off the wires or brackets in your braces. Instead, you can have soft crusts cut into small pieces for easier and safer chewing.
Read also: Totinos Pizza Air Fryer: Recipes for Totino’s Pizza Party
Can you eat pepperoni pizza with braces?
Yes, you can pepperoni pizza if the pepperoni is properly cooked and not chewy. Firstly, you need to ensure the pizza crust is soft, otherwise, you should steer clear of it. Thin or thick pizza crusts will only do bad things to your braces. Pepperoni on your pizza is fine as long as it is thin, easy to chew, and not overcooked. Some other braces-friendly pizza toppings are soft veggies, soft chicken slices, soft and crumbled bacon, and mushrooms. Ensure all toppings are cut into small pieces and are not chunky.
Can you eat pizza with braces on the first day?
No, it is not advisable to eat pizza with braces on the first day. The first day of getting braces might be quite tough, your gums and teeth would be sore. You would need to take some time to learn how to eat with braces and this usually starts with soft foods that require little to no chewing, then you can move on to harder foods that require more chewing.
Asides from the soreness and the learning curve, the bond used to fix the brackets to your teeth take about 24 hours to reach their maximum strength. So, even if your gums don’t feel so sore, it’ll be wise to wait at least 24 to 48 hours.
Read also: Can You Eat Cereal with Braces?
How to eat pizza with new braces
Firstly, we would not recommend eating a pizza 24 or 48 hours after getting braces. It is best to wait until your gums feel less sore and you feel confident enough to have pizza. When you do, you should have soft crust pizzas with small-sized toppings that are easy to chew. Some braces-friendly pizza toppings are soft veggies, thin and properly cooked pepperoni, soft chicken slices, soft and crumbled bacon, and mushrooms.
You can also have a soft crust deep dish pizza. It is loaded with tomato sauce and cheese – you have no other choice but to eat this in small pieces, which makes it great for braces. Finally, how you choose to clean up after eating a pizza is very important. Following the rules, might mean that nothing gets stuck in your teeth but if something does, you have to carefully brush, floss, and rinse off to get it out.
Read also: Can You Eat Crunchy, crispy chicken and Beef Burgers with Braces?
What junk foods can I eat with braces?
Some junk foods you can eat with braces are:
- Ice cream, popsicles
- Soft pretzels, potato chips, cheese puffs, fresh baked cookies
- M & ms, hershey bars, kit kats
- Frozen yogurt
- Baked chips, pringles
- Cotton candy
- Soft, non-sticky chocolate
Some junk foods you should not eat with braces are:
- Bubblegum
- Hard, sticky or chewy candies
- Gummy worms
- Caramel chews
- Nachos
Conclusion
While you still have a lot of delicious food options, you should remember that braces won’t stop your teeth from rotting. You don’t want to be dealing with cavities while you have braces on – so watch what you eat. Avoid too much sugar, obey your food restrictions and stay healthy.
