My Kid Has Braces; What Should I Pack Them for Lunch?

Traditional metal braces have allowed countless kids and adults to resolve even severe cases of dental misalignment such as crossbites, overbites, underbites, and crossbites. However, this treatment requires patients to adhere to a considerable list of dietary restrictions to be successful. Here’s a few tips for packing a delicious and nutritious lunch for a child who wears braces.

What Foods Should My Child Avoid?

Certain foods can damage braces by dislodging or deforming brackets and wires or cause dental stains to form in the exposed enamel. A few items to avoid include:

• Sugary and acidic beverages like juice, soda, and sports drinks
• Hard and crunchy items like nuts, seeds, popcorn, hard candy, and raw fruits and veggies
• Sticky items that can pull your braces out of place such as taffy and gum
• Chewy foods like bagels, beef jerky, pizza crust, crusty bread, and protein bars
• Darkly colored items like berries, colorful candies, coffee, tea, cola, ketchup, barbeque, and soy sauce

What Are a Few Orthodontics-Friendly Lunch Ideas?

Luckily, kids wearing braces can enjoy a wide range of tasty and healthy items. A few excellent ideas for lunch include:

• Sandwiches on soft bread
• Egg, chicken, or tuna salad
• Pizza
• Pasta such as macaroni and cheese
• Mashed potatoes
• Applesauce
• Bananas
• Fruit cups
• Yogurt
• Steamed veggies
• Soup
• Meatloaf
• Salad without croutons or big chunks of crunchy vegetables
• Milk
• Water
• Smoothies

How Can My Child Keep Their Orthodontic Treatment on Track While at School?

Schoolchildren with braces must take special care to ensure that they keep their teeth and braces clean throughout the school day. It’s important for your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day to help flush food debris away from their teeth and stimulate healthy saliva flow. They should also bring a kit that includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and floss threaders so they can clean their teeth after meals at school.

Smart food decisions are a crucial part of successful orthodontic treatment. By taking care to pack items that will not harm your child’s teeth or braces, you can set them up for many years with a healthy and beautifully aligned smile.

About the Practice

New England Kids offers the finest pediatric dental and orthodontic services in Auburn. Led by Drs. Reema Dhingra, Golnaz Goodarzi, and Sibel Bialas, the staff treats each guest with courtesy and compassion in a welcoming and kid-friendly environment. Areas of expertise include pediatric dentistry and orthodontics such as traditional braces. To learn more about helping your kid keep their orthodontic treatment on track, contact the office online or dial (508) 832-6278.