What’s for lunch? If your child got new braces this summer, the answer just got a little more complicated. Once kids return to school, you’ll have to take into consideration the challenges they will face when eating with new braces without your guidance.

Our team has been giving that some thought, and here’s what we’ve come up with to help keep your kid on the fastest track to a straight smile:

Healthy Tooth Snacks

Teeth need a steady supply of calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, and other minerals and nutrients, which can be found in foods like:

• Chicken, turkey, and beef, especially in lunch-meat form
• Milk, sugar-free yogurt, and other dairy products
• Fruits like bananas, sliced, peeled apples, watermelon, and soft fruits

Each of these is also easy to brush off the dental surface before they need to get to their next class.

Post-Tightening Appointment Lunches

Immediately after your child’s braces-tightening appointments, their teeth may be more sensitive than normal. Sandwiches and foods that require a lot of chewing should be avoided for a day or two. Foods that require minimal chewing and discomfort include:

• Soup
• Pasta
• Pudding
• Eggs
• Grilled cheese
• Milkshakes…any excuse!
• Pasta
• Loaded Baked Potato
• Butternut Squash
• Soft Fruits
• Smoothies
• Yogurt
• Jello
• Applesauce

What Not to Pack

Foods that can stick to or damage your child’s braces should be avoided, such as:

• Soft, chewy, and sticky candy that can adhere to brackets and wires
• Sodas, fruit juices, and similarly high-acid beverages
• Nuts, hard candy, and popcorn
• Cakes, cookies, brownies, or other sugar-loaded treats

Plan Ahead for Braces-Friendly Lunches

Surf into the new school year. You might need to get a little more creative, but packing a lunch that works with your child’s new braces is less difficult when you plan ahead.

If you have questions or concerns, please come in for answers. Call our office at 703-263-0575.