You know what your child shouldn’t eat while they have braces, but what should they eat? When your child gets home from school they always look for a quick bite that provides the energy boost a little kid needs. Now that they have braces, many foods they use to be able to eat need to be avoided, such as carrot sticks and hard cheeses. Any food that’s too hard, crunchy, or chewy can damage brackets and wires and will need an extra trip to your orthodontist. Our dentists at Orthocenter recommend these healthy and braces-friendly options for your child’s midday snack.
Fruits and Vegetables
Strawberries and bananas are great, soft fruits that are easy on your child’s braces. If you want to incorporate greens such as kale and spinach, blending it along with sweet fruits will mask the grassy flavor making it palatable for children to drink. For apples and carrots, you should cut them in thin slices if your child would still want to eat them making their braces less susceptible to damage.
Meat and Dairy
Cheese and dairy provide the calcium and vitamin D that children need. You can give your child braces-friendly soft cheeses like string cheese and cream cheese. Yogurts and similar products are also a great option to give your child calcium. For meats, anything that doesn’t require much chewing such as chicken, ham, and eggs is full of the protein that children need.
These are dentist-approved foods to give your children. Parents only want the best for their children and they want to provide healthy nutrition-rich foods that are also delicious. Let us know what your child’s favorite snack is on their next visit to Orthocenter. If you have any other questions about foods your children should or should not eat contact us!