You thought getting a toddler to brush their teeth was hard. Try inspiring a tween with an expander cemented into her mouth (I cringed every night I had to insert the key and turn the expander – poor girl is working hard for a good smile!). I thought it timely to share some tips about tweens and teeth (braces: what you can and can’t eat edition).
/>The trouble with tweens and teeth isn’t so much that they don’t want to brush (brushing should be an expected daily routine) it’s the hardware that makes teeth care a challenge. Brackets can break. Wires can bend. Food can get stuck. Taking care of your teeth goes to a whole ‘nother level as a tween.
What NOT to eat while wearing braces
Popcorn, chewy candy, gummies, chewy granola bars (I have a recipe for a homemade microwave granola bars that kids-with-braces can still eat), whole apples, raw carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, hard bagels, french bread (ouch on tough crusts!), unground whole grains (seeds), stringy meat (including chicken wings unfortunately), toffee, corn, dried apricot.
Think: anything hard or sticky
What to eat while wearing braces
Applesauce, yogurt, pudding, pasta, rice, steamed carrots, cauliflower, broccoli (or any veggie), mashed potatoes, fish, juicy chicken, bread with crusts cut off, grapes, pears, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, hazelnut spread, soup, wraps, fish crackers.
Think: anything soft or small
- Oral-B Pro-Health For Me Vitality Electric Toothbrush (allows for gentle brushing even with dental hardware)
- Girls Active Tricot Tees – Old Navy (new shirt help with self-image)
- Fold-over yoga capris – Old Navy (get body moving and forget about teeth)
- Music (listening to fav playlist can help the dental visit feel like its going faster)
I make it a point to be the person to take my daughter to her ortho appointments (showing her that I make her teeth – and wellness – a priority in my life). She gets my full attention on the drive to and from ortho (we talk school, friends, and music). Instead of making it an “ugh, ortho!” day – I try to spin her experience as “I get Mommy” day.
Any Parent Club readers with a brace experience? I’d love to hear what made your tween teeth days easier.
Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events and opportunities. The opinions on this blog are my own.
So glad we have not had to do the braces thing
My comment to our ortho was “I don’t want to pay for supermodel teeth – I want funcational teeth please”
Oh, I remember ALL too well having braces and the fun that comes with eating! I also learned the hard way that they tell you to not each certain things for good reasoning 🙂
I used to avoid things that can stain my brace “elastics”, like spaghetti sauce — not that I avoided it for two years, but when I was in public and couldn’t brush your teeth, I would.
What the heck is it with tweens and brushing teeth? Are they completely adverse to basic hygiene? one of life’s great mysteries I think 🙂
I used to wear braces. HATED THEM with a passion. I even had to wear the head gear thing for awhile. Argh. I found that anything sticky was the worst for braces, ie: toffee, nouget, gum, etc.
I went through 4 girls and their braces, gum was the worst after braces you get retainers for some, ugh, put it in the freezer and pick the gum off or buy new retainers. They have thanked me many times for straight teeth..
These pieces of advice are useful!