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Good News:

Chocolate is okay as long as it is not mixed with nuts, hard or chewy carmel, or anything crunchy.

Foods to Avoid:

Foods that are sticky. chewy, hard or crunchy can cause damage to your braces and if consumption is continued for a longer period of time, may diminish your final results.

General Rules to Remember:
  • Nothing sticky
  • Nothing chewy
  • Nothing hard
  • Nothing crunchy
  • Limit sugar intake, including sugary drinks
  • No sucking on lemon or lime halves
  • No eating ice
You must avoid:
  • Carrots (raw)
  • Corn Chips
  • Corn on the cob
  • French bread crust and hard rolls
  • Hard candy
  • Ice
  • Pizza Crusts
  • Peanuts
  • Pretzels
  • Popcorn
  • Sticky candy
  • Taffy
  • Whole apples and carrots

Tortilla Chips - Hard crunchy chips are not
allowed, smaller softer corn chips and potato chips are okay though!
Hard Candy - including suckers and peanut brittle.
Jerky - including all types of meat from which jerky is made.
Lime and Lemon - no sucking on lime or lemon halves.
Apple, whole - core and slice apple before eating.
Pizza Crust - cut off crusts and discard.
Carrots, raw, uncooked - chop in bite sized pieces and/or cook till tender.
Whole nuts - Not allowed. Chopped cashew pieces and shelled sun-flower seeds are OK.
Gummy Candy - including all flavors and shapes.
Bubble Gum - the only approved gum in the office is "Orbitiz", it is consistently soft and sugar-free. Other sugar-free gum that hardens the longer you chew it is not allowed.
Licorice - including all flavors.
Pretzels - the bigger and harder ones are the worst. But, the big SOFT pretzels are OK!
Taffy - including homemade and storebought varieties.
Chewy Candy - carmels and fruit flavored squares are two examples.
Corn on the Cob - cut the kernels off the cob before eating.
Ice - try ice water to cool off but don't eat the ice.
Carmel Nut Bars - this includes any combination of sticky candy and whole nuts.
Grain Nut Bars - avoid the varities with whole nuts.
French Baguette or Hard Rolls - try the soft variety, untoasted.
Popcorn - including plain and flavored such as Carmel and Cheese. Popcorn is not allowed due to safety concerns, instead we recommend puffcorn treats made out of processed popcorn (without kernels).