Can You eat Bagels With Braces?
Although bagels originated from Poland, they’re now popular in various areas like Canada, UK, and United States, especially Montreal and New York. Nevertheless, they’re becoming popular throughout the world.
If you have braces, you need to be careful of the foods you eat. Some foods are okay to eat with braces. However, some have issues that may even lead to the braces’ brackets breaking. Do bagels fall in this category? Can you eat bagels with braces? Read on to learn more about whether you can eat bagels with braces and other foods to avoid.
Can You Eat Bagels With Braces
Yes, you can eat bagels with braces. However, you need to know how to do so safely and that not all bagels are safe to eat with braces. Here’s how you can safely enjoy bagels if you have braces:
- Eat bagels made from 100% whole-wheat flour – whole-wheat bagels are high in fiber and nutrients and low in sugar. This makes them ideal for anyone desiring to maintain or improve their dental health. Whole-wheat flour is also less likely to stick to the braces.
Bagels made from white processed flour are high in sugars, making them unsuitable for dental health. They are also high in gluten which causes them to easily stick to teeth or the braces.
- Opt for bagels with a softer crust – when deciding to eat bagels while having braces go for those with a softer crust. Bagels with an extremely hard and crispy crust are not good for your braces. Such bagels can make you easily break your braces.
- Pre-cut your bagels into smaller pieces before eating – cutting bagels into smaller pieces makes eating and chewing them easier. This is especially good for huge bagels, although you can also pre-cut the smaller ones.
- Brush your teeth after eating bagels – brushing your teeth after consuming bagels is crucial in ensuring the small remains are out of your mouth. Sometimes brushing is not enough and you’d be required to use dental floss to ensure all remains are out of your mouth.
What Other Foods Can You Eat With Braces
The first days after getting your braces may be challenging regarding food choices. But remember anything soft is great. However, that doesn’t have to be boring. Here are foods safe to eat with braces:
Dairy
Dairy is okay with braces and you can have as many as you like, yogurt, milkshakes, soft cheese, etc. However, avoid yogurt bowls with nuts and other crunchy and hard additions. Ice creams with nuts and other hard bits of any food that doesn’t melt in the mouth are not recommended too.
For cheeses, most types are safe to eat. Avoid the hard ones and sticky types that can get caught on your hardware.
Bread And Grains
You can eat any grain or bread that does not require pulling or tugging. Rolls and bagels are safe if avoided. But you can tear or cut them into smaller bite-sized pieces, making you enjoy them without using your teeth to pull or tug. It’s best to avoid fruit or grain bread with nuts.
Pasta, Rice, and Meats
Rice and pasta are great with bagels. Some examples are:
- Spaghetti
- Macaroni and cheese
- Lasagna
- Cooked rice dishes
- Ravioli
The most crucial thing to note with rice and pasta is to avoid crunchy bits like the corner of the lasagna where it was a bit overcooked.
Most meats are okay with braces. However, it’s good to avoid overly tough cuts and stick to tender ones. Fish, chicken, steak, pork, and lunch meats are all good options. Remember to avoid crispy bacon and other crunchy bits.
Fruits, Vegetables, and Desserts
Cooked vegetables and fruits are all great, while raw ones need a little thinking. Corn on the cob and other vegetables that need biting should be avoided.
The good thing is that you can eat almost all types of fruit pies (except pecan pie). Dessert bread and soft cookies without nuts, doughnuts, and cinnamon rolls are also great options.
What To Have For Breakfast With Braces
Here are great dishes you can safely enjoy at breakfast if you have braces:
- Chia Pudding – this is a healthy dessert breakfast fit for anyone with braces. It’s easy to prepare and available at most eateries.
Although some people say that chia seeds may stick to the braces. That’s not true for the soaked ones, as they become soft requiring less chewing. You can even drink them if you want, without having to bite.
- Mashed potatoes – this dish is delicious and filling. And the best thing about it is that it doesn’t need chewing, making your life with braces easier.
- Scrambled eggs – this dish is filling, rich in proteins, and ideal for people with braces. The fluffy texture requires little chewing. Scrambled eggs are also readily available at all breakfast-serving restaurants.
- Pancakes – most of those with braces have difficulty finding meals they can enjoy at restaurants. There are tons of dishes to eat at a restaurant, even with braces, including pancakes.
- Oatmeal – oatmeal is a good source of energy and nutrition, either overnight soaked, or cooked on the stove. With oats, there are many ways of preparing them, savoury or sweet, steel or rolled, etc.
You can prepare a fresh oats breakfast on weekends or prepare an overnight, on-the-go jar for weekdays. Note that there are also many readily available oatmeal recipes online that are easy to follow.
- Muffins (without nuts) – another grab-and-go excellent breakfast choice for people with braces. You can prepare them at home or buy them from a local cafe.
When eating muffins for breakfast, consider going for healthier options like oat, zucchini, or chocolate muffins. These help add more nutritional value to your breakfast.
Conclusion
Can you eat bagels with braces? Yes, you can eat bagels, but need to be cautious about the type of bagels you are eating and how you eat them.
Whole-wheat bagels are more recommended than refined, as they’re healthier, higher in fiber, and nutrients, and are less sticky. It’s also good to buy bagels with a softer crust than those with a hard and crunchy crust.
When eating bagels, cut them into smaller pieces and avoid eating them with toppings, especially sticky toppings. Remember to also brush your teeth carefully after eating bagels.