Foods to Avoid during your Orthodontic Treatment

There are a variety of foods Dr. Joseph Brogan wants you to avoid while you're wearing braces. Some foods can occasionally damage braces, but certain foods can bend the wires or even break the brackets on your braces. If you’re wearing braces, you should avoid starch, sugar and gummy foods, as these foods can be difficult to remove during brushing. Foods that are high in sugar and starch tend to cause plaque, cavities and even tooth decay.

Avoid tough meats, hard breads and raw vegetables such as carrots and celery. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.

Foods you should avoid include:

• Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
• Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
• Sticky foods: caramels, gum
• Hard foods: nuts, candy
• Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots

Also, chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.

If you have any questions on which foods you should be avoiding and why, we invite you to Brogan Orthodontics a call or ask our staff during your next visit.

Meet Our Orthodontist

Dr. Brogan earned his B.S. at the University of Scranton in Scranton, PA, and his D.M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He completed his Orthodontic Residency and Masters at Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia. He continues to stay up-to-date with the latest in orthodontic technology by taking 40 hours of continuing education each year.

Dr. Brogan is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Orthodontics, American Association of Orthodontics, Suburban Dental Study Club, Philadelphia County Dental Society, Montgomery County Dental Society, and Roxborough Area Study Group, and is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Department of Orthodontics at Temple School of Dentistry in Philadelphia.

Dr. Brogan is an Invisalign® Premier Provider, specializing in Invisalign and lingual braces, and has had numerous articles published in refereed journals. He has practiced in the Philadelphia area since 1999. Dr. Brogan and his staff strive to provide friendly and expert care using advanced technology, and treat patients as individuals by answering questions and concerns with understandable information. Our office respects that your time is valuable and tries to offer appointments that meet your needs.

A native of Havertown, PA, Dr. Brogan has lived in Blue Bell since 1997 with his wife, Lisa. They have three sons, Sam, Joey, and Michael. In his leisure time, Dr. Brogan likes to participate in sports with his kids, fly as a private pilot, fish, and play golf. He's involved in his community through organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, Cub Scouts, American Red Cross, and Habitat for Humanity.