If you’ve just got braces put on and you are wondering what types of foods you can eat, then you are asking the right question.
Some foods can damage your braces, which in turn extends the alignment process, and that results in higher costs.
So if you are asking yourself can you eat chips and queso with braces? then this article is for you.
Can you eat chips and queso with braces?
You should avoid eating chips and queso with braces on. This is because the chips served with queso are usually tortillas chips, which are quite hard to chew. Biting down on the chips could damage the wire and the brackets and could cause your braces to misalign.
So we recommend avoiding eating chips and queso.
Queso – which is made up of melted cheese and chili peppers is fine to eat with braces, but it is generally sticky in texture and could end up getting lodged in various parts of your braces.
If you do decide to eat Queso and a few chips, here are some tips to keep your braces clean.
Tips to keep your teeth and braces clean
Braces will give you a beautiful smile, but it’s just as important to make sure that smile stays healthy.
Taking care of your teeth is an important part of having braces. Plaque is more likely to build up on teeth with braces because the brackets and wires attract food particles and make it harder to clean the outside of your teeth.
Plaque can stain teeth and wear down the enamel that protects them. If you follow the below steps your teeth and braces can remain clean and odor-free.
- Use a soft toothbrush. It is important to clean the very top part of your teeth between your brackets and gums. To keep your gums clean, the toothbrush’s bristles have to touch the gums. Choose a brush with softer bristles, so you don’t hurt your gums, and angle the brush toward your gums. This should remove any leftover chips and queso particles.
- Brush every time you eat. Food gets caught in the wires of braces, and plaque can form if you don’t brush often enough. We suggest that you bring a travel toothbrush with you. Give it a 30-second rinse with water if you don’t have one. The only time you shouldn’t brush your teeth is after eating something acidic. When you eat or drink something sour, like an orange or a sports drink, you should wait around 30 minutes to an hour before brushing your teeth.
- Use just the right amount of toothpaste. The foam toothpaste makes can make it harder to see the plaque and other chips and queso leftovers on your teeth. Start brushing your teeth with only a wet toothbrush. This will help you clean around the brackets and between the wires. Use a careful, picking motion instead of scrubbing. Then, put a small amount of toothpaste on the brush and clean.
- Spend two minutes brushing your teeth. Spend 30 seconds on the upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left parts of your mouth. Clean the outside and inside of your teeth. Make sure you brush for the full two minutes by setting a timer.
- Use a threader for floss or a Waterpik. Flossing can be hard when you have braces on your teeth. Threading floss through the wire will be easier if you tie it to a threader. Use a motion like a saw to get rid of more plaque and leftover chip particles. Also, you might want to think about buying a Waterpik water flosser. It cleans with a stream of water and makes flossing quick and easy.
- Use a mouthwash at night to clean your teeth. Look for a fluoride mouthwash that helps prevent cavities and protects the enamel of your teeth. One minute of rinsing will help get rid of any leftover dirt. After you rinse, look in the mirror to ensure you didn’t miss any chips or queso particles.
Conclusion:
Avoid eating chips and queso with your braces on, especially stay away from the chips as they can hurt your teeth and potentially damage the wire and brackets on your braces.
