# Foods to Avoid With Braces: The Complete UK Guide Publisher: Virtual Consultant Online Author: Virtual Consultant Online Published: 2026-08-16 Updated: 0001-01-01 Canonical URL: https://virtualconsultant.online/blog/foods-to-avoid-with-braces-uk Citation metadata: https://virtualconsultant.online/citation.json?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvirtualconsultant.online%2Fblog%2Ffoods-to-avoid-with-braces-uk When your braces are fitted, your orthodontist will give you a list of foods to avoid. For most patients, this list feels longer than expected — and sticking to it throughout an 18 to 24 month treatment feels genuinely challenging. But the reasons are real: eating the wrong foods can snap brackets off teeth, bend wires, pull out elastic ties, and cause damage that adds weeks or months to your treatment. Understanding why certain foods are off-limits makes it much easier to stick to the restrictions. This guide covers exactly which foods to avoid with braces, why they cause problems, and what the safe alternatives are — so you can enjoy eating during your treatment while protecting your orthodontic appliance. Key takeaway The three categories of foods that most commonly cause brace damage are: hard foods (which snap brackets), sticky and chewy foods (which pull brackets and wires), and sugary foods and drinks (which cause tooth decay under the brackets that is very difficult to treat during active orthodontic treatment). If you damage a bracket, it is important to contact your orthodontist and get it fixed — a bracket that is off the tooth is doing nothing, and a tooth that is not being moved while the rest continue will eventually need extra time to catch up. Every broken bracket delays treatment. ## Foods to Avoid Completely With Fixed Braces ### Hard foods that snap brackets Hard crusty bread and rolls — baguettes, ciabatta, bagels, hard toast. The crust can snap a bracket if bitten into hard. Switch to soft bread or cut crusty bread into small pieces Raw hard vegetables — raw carrots, raw broccoli, raw apple, raw pear. These are healthy but extremely bracket-unfriendly eaten whole. Grate them, cook them, or cut them into very small pieces Hard meat on the bone — ribs, chicken legs, chops eaten directly from the bone. The force required to tear meat from a bone can pull brackets off. Cut the meat from the bone first Nuts and seeds — especially whole nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews). Ground nuts and nut butters are fine Popcorn — the unpopped kernels at the bottom of the bag are extremely hard and notorious for breaking brackets; even popped corn hulls can get stuck under wires and cause gum irritation Hard sweets and lollipops — biting down on a hard sweet or lollipop will snap brackets. Avoid entirely Ice — chewing on ice cubes is one of the most common causes of broken brackets. Do not chew ice Whole apples and pears — the front teeth take the full load of biting into an apple. Either peel and slice them, or cook them ### Sticky and chewy foods that pull brackets and wires Toffee, fudge, and caramel — some of the most bracket-hostile foods. They stick to the brackets, pull on the wires, and are almost impossible to clean away properly. Avoid entirely Chewing gum — wraps around wires and brackets and is nearly impossible to remove without damaging the brace. This is a complete no-go during fixed brace treatment Chewy sweets — Starburst, Haribo chewy sweets, Wine Gums, Fruit Pastilles. The chewy texture requires sustained pulling force that dislodges brackets Liquorice — similar mechanism to chewy sweets; the chewy texture combined with the stickiness makes this very bracket-unfriendly Bagels and chewy bread — not the same problem as hard bread, but the sustained chewing force on chewy bread can dislodge wires Dried fruit — raisins, dates, apricots, and similar. Very sticky and high in sugar — a double problem during brace treatment Chewy pizza crusts — the base of a pizza is usually fine; it is the overcooked or very chewy crust edge that causes problems Hard Snaps brackets off teeth — ice, hard nuts, whole raw carrots, hard sweets, popcorn kernels Sticky/chewy Pulls brackets and wires — toffee, chewing gum, chewy sweets, dried fruit Sugary Causes decay around brackets that is hard to treat — fizzy drinks, sweets, sugary snacks throughout the day ### Sugary foods and drinks that cause decay This category does not damage the brace itself — it damages the teeth underneath and around it. Decalcification (white spot lesions — permanent white marks left on the tooth surface after brackets are removed) and decay under and around brackets are among the most significant preventable complications of fixed brace treatment. Fizzy drinks (including diet) — the acid in carbonated drinks weakens enamel and promotes decay around brackets. This is one of the most important dietary changes for brace patients. Switch to still water or milk Fruit juice — high in natural sugar and acid. Still better than fizzy drinks but should not be sipped throughout the day Frequent sugary snacking — it is not just the total amount of sugar that matters, but the frequency. Every time you eat sugar, the bacteria in plaque produce acid that attacks enamel for about 20 minutes. Multiple snacks throughout the day means the teeth are under acid attack most of the day. Keep sugar to mealtimes Sports and energy drinks — typically very high in sugar and acid. Not suitable during brace treatment Thinking about braces? Find out what treatment would involve for your specific situation A virtual assessment from a specialist orthodontist gives you a personalised view of your options and what the treatment process would look like — before you commit to anything. Start your free assessment → ## What You CAN Eat With Braces The list of things to avoid is long, but the list of what you can eat comfortably is longer. Most of the foods people eat regularly are completely fine with braces: Soft bread, wraps, pitta: absolutely fine — just avoid very crusty or very chewy varieties All cooked vegetables: broccoli, carrots, peppers, sweet potato, peas, green beans — cook them and they are all fine Pasta and rice: excellent brace-friendly staples that are gentle on brackets Soft proteins: fish, chicken breast, eggs, soft cooked meat, tofu, beans Dairy: yoghurt, soft cheese, milk — all fine and good for your teeth Soft fruit: berries, peeled and sliced mango, melon, banana, peeled and sliced apple or pear Chocolate: soft chocolate (not hard or nutty) is actually one of the more brace-friendly sweet treats — it dissolves quickly and does not pull on brackets. Avoid chocolate bars with hard nuts, caramel, or very chewy centres Important If you break a bracket or a wire comes loose, do not wait for your next scheduled appointment if it is more than a week away. A broken bracket means a tooth is not being moved correctly, and the longer it goes unrepaired the more time it adds to your treatment. Contact your orthodontic practice to report the breakage and get advice on whether you need to be seen urgently or can wait until a scheduled appointment. Small amounts of orthodontic wax pressed over a poking wire end can make you comfortable while you wait for a repair appointment. Start Your Orthodontic Journey With Confidence A virtual assessment from a specialist orthodontist tells you what treatment would involve for your specific teeth — including which treatment options are available and what the process looks like from start to finish. No commitment needed. Start Your Free Assessment → ## FAQs ### What foods can you not eat with braces? With fixed braces you should avoid three categories of food: hard foods that snap brackets (ice, hard sweets, whole nuts, popcorn, raw whole carrots, hard crusty bread, biting directly from a bone); sticky and chewy foods that pull brackets and wires off (toffee, chewing gum, chewy sweets, dried fruit, very chewy bread); and frequent sugary and acidic foods and drinks that promote decay around the brackets (fizzy drinks, fruit juice sipped throughout the day, frequent sweet snacks). Of these, the hardest to avoid for most patients are chewy sweets and fizzy drinks. ### Can you eat pizza with braces? Yes, most pizza is fine with braces. The main thing to avoid is very chewy or very hard pizza crust — the doughy centre of most pizza bases is soft enough to eat without bracket damage risk. Cut your pizza into smaller pieces rather than biting into a large slice with your front teeth, which puts more force on the brackets. Avoid pizza toppings that are very hard or very chewy (for example, very crispy bacon or very chewy dried meat toppings). ### Can you eat chocolate with braces? Yes — plain soft chocolate is one of the more brace-friendly sweet treats. It dissolves quickly and does not require the sustained hard biting or chewing force that damages brackets. Avoid chocolate bars that contain hard nuts, hard toffee, caramel, or very chewy centres. As with all sugary foods during brace treatment, keep chocolate to mealtimes rather than snacking on it throughout the day, to reduce the frequency of acid exposure to the teeth around the brackets. ### Can you drink fizzy drinks with braces? No — fizzy drinks are one of the most important things to avoid during fixed brace treatment. The combination of high sugar content and high acidity attacks the enamel around the brackets, making the teeth highly susceptible to decalcification — the permanent white spot lesions that can be left on the teeth after brackets are removed. This applies to diet fizzy drinks as well as regular ones: the acid is present regardless of the sugar content. Switch to still water (the best option) or milk during your orthodontic treatment. If you do drink something acidic, drink it quickly through a straw rather than sipping it over an extended period. ### What foods can you not eat with braces? With fixed braces you should avoid three categories of food: hard foods that snap brackets (ice, hard sweets, whole nuts, popcorn, raw whole carrots, hard crusty bread, biting directly from a bone); sticky and chewy foods that pull brackets and wires off (toffee, chewing gum, chewy sweets, dried fruit, very chewy bread); and frequent sugary and acidic foods and drinks that promote decay around the brackets (fizzy drinks, fruit juice sipped throughout the day, frequent sweet snacks). Of these, the hardest to avoid for most patients are chewy sweets and fizzy drinks. ### Can you eat pizza with braces? Yes, most pizza is fine with braces. The main thing to avoid is very chewy or very hard pizza crust — the doughy centre of most pizza bases is soft enough to eat without bracket damage risk. Cut your pizza into smaller pieces rather than biting into a large slice with your front teeth, which puts more force on the brackets. Avoid pizza toppings that are very hard or very chewy (for example, very crispy bacon or very chewy dried meat toppings). ### Can you eat chocolate with braces? Yes — plain soft chocolate is one of the more brace-friendly sweet treats. It dissolves quickly and does not require the sustained hard biting or chewing force that damages brackets. Avoid chocolate bars that contain hard nuts, hard toffee, caramel, or very chewy centres. As with all sugary foods during brace treatment, keep chocolate to mealtimes rather than snacking on it throughout the day, to reduce the frequency of acid exposure to the teeth around the brackets. ### Can you drink fizzy drinks with braces? No — fizzy drinks are one of the most important things to avoid during fixed brace treatment. The combination of high sugar content and high acidity attacks the enamel around the brackets, making the teeth highly susceptible to decalcification — the permanent white spot lesions that can be left on the teeth after brackets are removed. This applies to diet fizzy drinks as well as regular ones: the acid is present regardless of the sugar content. Switch to still water (the best option) or milk during your orthodontic treatment. If you do drink something acidic, drink it quickly through a straw rather than sipping it over an extended period. ## References - British Orthodontic Society — Patient information: looking after your brace (https://www.bos.org.uk/patients/orthodontic-appliances/fixed-braces) - BOS patient information on caring for fixed braces, including the dietary restrictions required to protect brackets and wires throughout treatment, the oral hygiene requirements for brace patients, and guidance on what to do if a bracket breaks or a wire becomes loose. - NHS — Orthodontic treatment: what to eat and avoid with braces (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/dental-treatments/dental-braces/) - NHS patient guidance on dietary restrictions during fixed orthodontic treatment, covering the categories of food most likely to damage brackets and wires, the relationship between sugary and acidic foods and the risk of decalcification during brace treatment, and practical advice on maintaining a nutritious diet within the constraints of fixed brace treatment. - Journal of Orthodontics — Decalcification and white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment: prevention and management (https://journals.sagepub.com/home/jor) - Peer-reviewed guidance on the prevention and management of decalcification (white spot lesions) during fixed orthodontic treatment, including the role of dietary acid and sugar exposure in promoting enamel demineralisation around brackets, the effectiveness of fluoride supplementation during treatment, and the clinical approaches for managing visible white spot lesions after debonding. - British Orthodontic Society — Patient information: looking after your brace (https://www.bos.org.uk/patients/orthodontic-appliances/fixed-braces) - BOS patient information on caring for fixed braces, including the dietary restrictions required to protect brackets and wires throughout treatment, the oral hygiene requirements for brace patients, and guidance on what to do if a bracket breaks or a wire becomes loose. - NHS — Orthodontic treatment: what to eat and avoid with braces (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/dental-treatments/dental-braces/) - NHS patient guidance on dietary restrictions during fixed orthodontic treatment, covering the categories of food most likely to damage brackets and wires, the relationship between sugary and acidic foods and the risk of decalcification during brace treatment, and practical advice on maintaining a nutritious diet within the constraints of fixed brace treatment. - Journal of Orthodontics — Decalcification and white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment: prevention and management (https://journals.sagepub.com/home/jor) - Peer-reviewed guidance on the prevention and management of decalcification (white spot lesions) during fixed orthodontic treatment, including the role of dietary acid and sugar exposure in promoting enamel demineralisation around brackets, the effectiveness of fluoride supplementation during treatment, and the clinical approaches for managing visible white spot lesions after debonding.