Braces are no longer only seen on teens, children now start orthodontic treatments as young as 7 years old. This means a few children in second and third grades might now live by a list of forbidden foods typically enjoyed by their peers.
Young children may gleefully show off their new metal and colorful bands, but teacher's might not receive a list of foods the student should avoid. Though not as dangerous as a nut allergy, off-limits foods for braces could cause a wire to break, a bracket to come loose, or damage to other devices such as arches and palate expanders. Sometimes this is minor and uncomfortable, but other times it can cause pain or injure the child's mouth.
Forbidden Foods for Kids with Braces
The list may vary between orthodontic practices, but the following are generally accepted as forbidden.
- Hard foods; pretzels, corn chips, bagels, nuts, raw carrots since they bend wires, loosen bands and knocks off brackets
- Sticky or chewy foods; caramel, gum, lollipops, fruit chews, hard candy all can become trapped in the wires and cause the bands to snap
- Popcorn; the shells get stuck between the gums and bands which is painful and difficult to remove
Healthy Braces Safe Classroom Snacks
The forbidden foods list contains many healthy snack options, but there are still some easy to prepare classroom treats that are braces safe.
- Fresh fruit slices; apples, pears, peeled oranges, bananas are all soft and easy to chew with braces
- Crackers and chips; saltines, Cheezits, specialty crackers, baked chips or other options not made with corn since corn based chips/crackers ball up in the mouth and can cause damage
- Dips; non-sticky dips such as yogurt or ranch dips are kid favorites
- Cheese; pre-cut or cheese sticks are simple to prepare and easy on braces
- Yogurt; in sleeves, drinkable, or small cups
Braces Safe Holiday Treats
Classroom holiday parties often feature holiday theme treats. Popcorn balls, caramel apples, hard and sticky holiday candies, and other kid favorites can be very tempting for a young child. Though these need not be banned from the classroom party it is advisable to make sure other options are available.
- Holiday decorated cupcakes; soft and single serve cupcakes with holiday decorations
- Soft cookies; whether slice-and-bake from the grocery store or creatively decorated, soft cookies are a hit with students
- Pudding cups; pudding cups made from holiday colored puddings and topped with soft cookie crumbs
A classroom holiday party featuring all hard, sticky and chewy foods can be disappointing and very tempting to a young child with braces. There are many easy classroom snack options and holiday treats that are safe for braces and easy to request for the next classroom party.
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