What Chips Can You Eat With Braces?

If you’re anything like most people, chips are a staple in your weekly eats. There’s something satisfying about the crunchy texture and salty flavor of chips that just can’t be beat! But if you’ve been fitted with braces, odds are you’ve had to give up your favorite snacks in exchange for a perfect smile. But don’t despair…there’s still hope!

In this blog post, we’ll answer the question, “What chips can you eat with braces?” Believe it or not, you can enjoy snacks without compromising your oral health.

With that said, read on to learn more about all of the tasty chips that are okay to eat with braces!

Why You Should Avoid Eating Chips With Braces

Before we discuss what chips you can eat with braces, let’s talk about why crunchy chips should be avoided. Well, when you have braces, it’s essential to protect your teeth and gums from any foods that are hard or sticky. This is because these types of foods may cause brackets to become loose, wires to break, or even your teeth to chip.

Chips are one of the worst offenders when it comes to damaging your braces and teeth. This is because they’re filled with starch. Therefore, they can easily get lodged between brackets and wires, making them difficult to clean. Additionally, chips are usually made with hard ingredients that can cause damage to your brackets or break them.

Therefore, it’s best to avoid eating chips—or any crunchy snacks—while wearing braces. If you must indulge in a beloved chip, try going for a softer option. Here are some chips that are more gentle on braces:

Pringles

Generally speaking, Pringles have a softer texture than traditional chips, making them easier to eat. However, they can still get lodged in between brackets and wires if you’re not careful.

When eating Pringles, try not to stuff your mouth. Eat one at a time to reduce the risk of damaging your braces.

Cheese Puffs

Cheese puffs have a very soft texture. This makes them less likely to break off pieces of your brackets or wires. Just be sure to steer clear of any cheese puffs that are too crunchy or hard. These snacks can still cause trouble with your braces.

It’s also a good idea to brush your teeth after eating cheese puffs. Doing so helps to remove any debris that may have become lodged in between your teeth and gums.

Baked Chips

Similar to Pringles, baked chips have a softer texture than traditional chips. They aren’t as hard, which means they’re less likely to cause damage to your braces.

However, it’s still important to practice caution when eating baked chips. Be sure not to bite down too hard on them. Otherwise, you may end up with a broken bracket or wire.

Baked chips aren’t as crispy and crunchy as regular chips, but they’re still a delicious treat.

Veggie Straws

These healthy chips are made with potatoes and vegetables. Therefore, they’re a great option for those who have braces. They’re much softer than traditional chips and are less likely to cause damage.

Veggie straws are also high in fiber and contain fewer calories than regular chips. So, if you’re looking for a healthy snack to eat with braces, veggie straws are the way to go.

Just keep in mind that veggie straws are similar to cheese puffs when it comes to texture. Therefore, it’s a good idea to brush your teeth after consumption to prevent debris from becoming lodged in your braces.

Chips to Avoid With Braces

Eating crunchy chips is one of the quickest ways to end up with broken braces. Here are some chips that you should avoid at all costs:

Kettle-cooked Chips

Although kettle-cooked chips are yummy, they’re way too hard for braces. Biting down on them can cause your wires or brackets to break. Large chunks of the chips can also get stuck in between your teeth and braces. This is why it’s best to stay away from this type of chip.

Tortilla Chips

Tortilla chips are especially harmful for those who have braces. Eating them can easily damage braces, as well as your teeth. This is especially true since tortilla chips are often eaten with dip. As a result, you’re less likely to pay attention to the way you eat them.

It’s also easy to bypass large chunks of tortilla chips and not chew them properly when eating them with dip.

Cheez-its

Cheez-its and similar snacks, like Goldfish crackers, are no-nos when it comes to braces. Not only are they hard, but they easily get stuck in between brackets and wires.

The texture gets so tough after chewing, and the cracker tends to clump together. This can cause further damage to your braces by pushing the wires out of alignment.

Cheetos

Cheetos have a crunchier consistency than cheese puffs. They aren’t as soft, meaning they’re a lot tougher on braces. Cheetos easily get stuck in between brackets and wires, which can cause discomfort.

Therefore, it’s best to steer clear of Cheetos if you have braces. Try opting for cheese puffs or veggie straws instead.

Overall, you can still enjoy snacks even if you have braces. Just be sure to practice caution and eat them in moderation.