Foods and Behaviors to Avoid While Wearing Six Month Smiles
By Joe McIntyre, DDS on April 25, 2022
Six Month Smiles® is an easy way to straighten your teeth quickly. The team at Smiles for Life Dental Care takes pride in offering accelerated smile-correcting solutions in Harrisonburg, VA. We work hard to help you meet your smile goals, which is why we believe that patient education is key to a successful procedure.
Many patients have heard that they should avoid certain foods during their orthodontic treatment. Some aren’t fully aware of which foods to stay away from and why. Here, our experts tell you the top foods to avoid while wearing Six Month Smiles, and how to make safer, healthier food choices.
Foods to Avoid Immediately After Getting Six Month Smiles
Brand new braces put constant pressure on the teeth, which can cause moderate discomfort for a few days. Our Harrisonburg dental team suggests avoiding the following foods immediately after getting Six Month Smiles:
- Extremely hot or cold foods and drinks
- Thick, difficult-to-chew foods
- Spicy or acidic foods and drinks
Many patients find it more difficult to eat while they are adjusting to their new hardware. But, these foods and drinks may worsen tooth and gum sensitivity following Six Month Smiles placement. Instead, patients should opt for room-temperature, easy-to-chew foods while getting used to their new smiles.
Foods to Avoid Throughout Your Treatment
Patients can resume eating and drinking hot, cold, spicy, and acidic food items once they feel more comfortable. However, there are some foods that patients should avoid throughout their entire Six Month Smiles treatment, such as:
- Chewing gum
- Hard or chewy candy
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Bagels, pizza crust, and dense rolls
- Crackers, pretzels, and chips
- Crunchy fruits and veggies
The brackets and archwire of braces are susceptible to dislodging or breaking while eating these foods. Avoiding them will keep you on track with your treatment plan, so you’ll get a straighter smile faster.
Behaviors to Avoid Throughout Your Treatment
There are some behaviors that can be just as damaging to braces as hard, crunchy, or dense foods. For example, patients should avoid:
- Chewing on ice
- Biting their fingernails
- Chewing on pens or pencils
- Using teeth as a tool to open packaging
Sugary foods and drinks can also be problematic for patients with braces, as they can lead to excessive plaque accumulation and increased cavity rates.
Safer Food Alternatives During Six Month Smiles
Our team recommends that patients choose softer foods during their Six Month Smiles treatment. Although this limits the textural variety of a person’s diet, it doesn’t diminish the diversity of foods that patients can still eat, such as:
- Cooked or soft fruits and vegetables
- Cheeses
- Soft breads
- Pasta
- Soups and stews
- Beans
- Eggs, seafood, and meat
Ask Us About Six Month Smiles Today
Avoiding certain foods and behaviors during your Six Month Smiles journey isn’t always easy. But, your dazzling new smile will make all of your hard work and dedication well worth it. If you’d like to discuss Six Month Smiles with our team serving the Harrisonburg area, then contact us online here.
You can also reach us directly at our two beautiful locations. To visit our Staunton office, call (540) 887-3304; for our Bridgewater office, call (540) 828-2312.
