Braces are handy appliances for plenty of reasons and correcting crooked teeth is the key to them. It helps align the upper and lower teeth properly. However, it’s a fairly slow process and the wearer needs to eat food with these braces. And this is where the question rises; can I eat pizza with braces?
According to retired dentist Ronald Leach, it takes around 24 hours for the attachment to reach around 99% strength. It means you can’t eat food or pizza right after wearing the braces. But after the day, you can start eating food or pizza.
With braces, you can only eat a softer diet and you must avoid sticky food. There are still some limitations. Read on to understand those limitations and considerations of eating pizza with braces and safe practices.
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Can I Eat Pizza With Braces: Considerations And Limitations
During the first few days, your cheeks and lips may irritate and teeth may tender when activating or tightening the appliance. This can make eating food difficult. In terms of pizza, you can eat it with braces; however, it shouldn’t be hard and sticky.
Otherwise, it can loosen the brackets and wires of the braces. In most cases, your orthodontist should recommend to you what to do or what not to do. But if you are in a hurry, keep reading to get all the considerations and limitations of eating pizza while wearing braces.
Crust
After wearing braces, soft-crust pizza is your friend. A hard-crust pizza is difficult to bite into and the required extra biting pressure can damage your braces. Conversely, a softer and chewier crust is easy to tear and cut into small pieces very easily. This way you can eat pizza without putting extra pressure on the braces.
Cheese
Cheese doesn’t create any problems for braces. However, you should be careful with thick and gooey cheese as it can cause brackets to loosen or wires to bend.
In addition, let the pizza cool down before eating it. This way the cheese will become less sticky and easier to chew. You can also cut the pizza into smaller pieces using a fork and knife to ensure a more braces-friendly experience.
Toppings That You Should Avoid
Pizza comes with a wide range of toppings and some are more braces-friendly than others. Below are some toppings that you should avoid to protect your braces:
Hard Or Crunchy Vegetables
Raw vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, and onions can be challenging for braces. So eat a pizza with softer and cooked vegetables to avoid messing up.
Tough Meats
Steak or jerky meat is difficult to chew and can get stuck in your braces easily. Instead, opt for tender meats like ground beef or shredded chicken.
Nuts and Seeds
You should strictly avoid a pizza that is topped with nuts and seeds as it can get lodged between brackets and wires. Therefore you can feel discomfort.
Sticky Or Chewy Ingredients
Caramelized onions, dried fruits, and other sticky toppings can pull on your braces and make it damage them. So keep away from these toppings while wearing braces.
Alternative Pizza Options
- Explore Flatbread Pizzas: has a thin and crispy crust. Easier to chew.
- Pita Pizzas: softer than traditional pizza dough. It is gentle for braces and offers a satisfying pizza experience.
- Try Cauliflower Crust Pizzas: A low-carb and gluten-free alternative to traditional pizzas. Its softer texture is perfect for those with braces
- Pizza-Inspired Dishes: you can make a pizza casserole with layers of soft pasta, tomato sauce, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings. You can also create pizza-stuffed bell peppers by filling them with a mixture of ground meat, cheese, tomato sauce, and pizza seasonings.
- Soft-Crust or No-Crust Pizzas: Some pizzerias offer soft-crust or no-crust pizza options that can be easier to eat with braces.
How To Enjoy Pizza With Braces?
By following these tips, you can enjoy your favorite pizza even while wearing braces:
Choose The Right Type Of Pizza
Picking the right type of pizza can lessen your worry significantly. So opt for a thin-crust pizza and avoid excessively chewy, hard, or sticky toppings. Choose mushrooms, bell peppers, or cooked spinach instead of caramelized onions, nuts, or extra cheese
Cut Pizza into Small Pieces
Instead of biting a large slice of pizza, cut it into manageable pieces. This way you can minimize the pressure on your braces and avoid potential damage. Even this can make your pizza-eating experience more pleasant.
Eat Slowly
Eat your pizza slowly and savor each bite even if you are eager to devour your pizza. Chew the pizza carefully using your back teeth. This will prevent your pizza from getting stuck in the braces and make it easier to clean them later.
Clean The Braces Thoroughly
After enjoying your pizza, clean the braces properly. Gently brush around the brackets and wires using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Remove the food particles that may get trapped. In addition, floss between teeth using orthodontic floss. Finally, rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash or water to flush away any remaining debris.
Use Orthodontic Wax
If your braces are causing discomfort while eating pizza, use orthodontic wax to reduce irritation. Orthodontic wax creates a barrier between braces and the soft tissues of the mouth and allows enjoying pizza comfortably.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Along with following those tips, schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings during your orthodontic treatment. Your dentist will monitor your oral health, clean any areas that are difficult to reach, and provide guidance to ensure good oral hygiene with braces.
How To Identify Damaged Braces From Eating Pizza
Following are some signs that indicate the damage to your braces due to eating pizza or other food:
Loose Or Broken Brackets
After eating pizza, carefully inspect your braces for any loose or broken brackets. These are the small squares attached to your teeth that hold the archwire in place. If the bracket becomes dislodged from your tooth, visit an orthodontist for a repair.
Check For Damaged Or Misaligned Wires
After eating pizza, examine the archwire that runs through your brackets. If it has become bent, broken, or is poking into your cheeks, it means the brace gets damaged during eating pizza.
Misaligned or damaged wires can affect the effectiveness of your orthodontic treatment and cause discomfort. In this case, you may need to adjust or replace the wire.
Inspect For Loose Bands
Bands are the metal rings cemented around the back teeth and it is often use to anchor appliances such as headgear or expanders. Check if any bands have become loose or detached due to eating pizza. If you find any issues, contact your orthodontist to re-cement or replace the bands.
Look For Detached Elastic Ligatures
Elastic ligatures, also known as “O-rings” or “color ties,” are the small rubber bands that hold the archwire to the brackets. After eating pizza, check if any ligatures have come off or appear stretched. If you notice any missing or damaged ligatures, replace them with the help of your orthodontist.
Examine Your Mouth For Pain Or Discomfort
If you experience any unusual pain or discomfort in your mouth after eating pizza, it could indicate damaged braces. Check your braces for any visible signs of damage and contact your orthodontist if the pain persists.
How Do Food Choices Matter With Braces?
When you wear a brace and desire the best result, you must concentrate on the food choice carefully. Some food can potentially damage your braces or complicate the orthodontic treatment. Below is some food that can badly affect your teeth and braces.
Hard Food
Eating nuts, popcorn, ice, hard candies, and carrots can break the bracket or bend the wires. However, you can cut these foods into smaller pieces or bite-sized pieces to consume them safely.
Sticky Food
Sticky food can adhere to your braces easily and make it challenging to clean off. As a result, your tooth may decay and braces can break down. The sticky foods you should avoid are chewing gum, taffy, caramel, and gummy candies.
Sugary Foods And Drinks
If you eat high-sugar food and drink beverages with braces, it can make your tooth decay. So you should limit the intake of sugary snacks, sodas, and fruit juices.
The Food You Can Consume With Braces
Soft foods are gentle for braces and teeth, making them an ideal choice. So the foods you can confidently eat are:
- Yogurt
- Mashed potatoes
- Scrambled eggs
- Pasta
- Soups
- Smoothies
Overall it’s crucial to maintain a balanced diet and choose foods that are safe for your braces to ensure optimal oral health and efficient orthodontic treatment.
FAQs on Can I Eat Pizza With Braces?
What Kind Of Pizza Can I Eat With Braces?
You can eat soft-crust pizza with your braces. Cut the pizza into smaller pieces and eat slowly and carefully to avoid damaging the braces.
Can Yu Eat Pizza With Braces On The First Day?
Braces take around 24 hours to reach their strength. You shouldn’t eat pizza during this period particularly if it is too tough, sticky, or stringy.
What Kind Of Fast Food Can I Eat With Braces?
You can eat pizza with braces but be careful about its crust. You can also eat brownies, chicken nuggets, and soft tacos.
Final Words
I hope you understand whether you can eat pizza with braces or not. When you are aiming to correct your crooked teeth, it would be wise if you can control your pizza craving. But if you are dedicated to enjoying the taste of cheesy, delicious pizza, you are allowed. Simply keep those tips in mind while choosing pizza and follow those practices to keep the braces functional
